West Newsmagazine 2-7-24

Vol. 29 No. 3 • February 7, 2024 

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STAR PARKER 

Social Security: 

A broken socialist dinosaur 

It seems many still harbor, or want to 

perpetuate, the illusion that our Social 

Security system is not in trouble. 

Let me quote here from a press release 

from the Social Security Administration 

released March 31, 2023: 

“The Social Security Board of Trustees 

today released its annual report on the 

financial status of the Social Security Trust 

Funds. The combined asset reserves of 

the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and 

Disability Insurance (OASI and DI) Trust 

Funds are projected to become depleted in 

2034, one year earlier than projected last 

year, with 80% of benefits payable at that 

time.” 

In 2034, per the report, “if Congress 

does not act before then ... there would be 

sufficient income coming in to pay 80% of 

scheduled benefits.” 

It couldn’t be clearer. In 10 years, with 

no action from Congress, everyone will 

begin receiving 80% of what they are currently 

receiving, or promised, under the 

existing Social Security system. 

Can anyone imagine getting a notice 

from a private retirement provider saying 

that in 10 years all beneficiaries will begin 

receiving 80% of what they were promised? 

How did we get into this situation? It’s 

the wonders of government planning, of 

socialism. 

Social Security is not a pension program 

based on investments. It is a government 

tax and spend program. The stipends of 

current retirees are paid with the payroll 

tax of those currently working. 

Because life spans have increased and 

population growth has decreased, there 

are far fewer working now to support each 

retiree than was the case years ago. Socialism 

is always mugged by reality. 

The Committee to Unleash Prosperity 

estimates that over the last 40 years, the 

annual real return of Social Security for 

“the typical middle-class worker” has been 

about 1% per year. 

Today, 30-year government bonds yield 

over 4%. The historic long-term return on 

stocks is 6%. Inflation adjusted. 

The paltry returns on Social Security 

are going to turn out much worse. To 

close the 20% deficit between revenues 

and outlays 10 years from now, some 

combination of tax increases and benefit 

cuts will be necessary. This will make bad 

returns even worse. 

Aside from the terrible economics of 

Social Security, how about the terrible 

politics? 

Every young person entering the workforce 

today has no choice but pay the payroll 

tax into this bankrupt system. 

With all our rhetoric about freedom, 

democracy and social justice, shouldn’t 

young people entering the workforce be 

given a choice whether they want to participate 

in this system? Why shouldn’t 

they be given the option – the freedom – to 

join a private retirement plan rather than a 

socialist government system? 

How about the injustice this causes lowincome 

Americans under the guise that 

government socialism is good for them? 

For a low-income earner, the Social 

Security payroll tax takes the only funds 

that they have available to invest. 

Per the Federal Reserve Consumer 

Finance Survey, median wealth of Black 

families is 15% of the median wealth of 

white families. Wealth comes from investment, 

not income. The percentage of Black 

families owning stock is about 60% of 

white families. 

Shouldn’t low-income families be given 

the option of getting out of the government 

system and investing privately over a 

40-year working life and have the option to 

build wealth? Why should government be 

telling these free, private individuals how 

to manage their retirement savings? 

Beyond what this broken system does to 

individuals, it also hurts the nation in the 

larger fiscal scheme of things. Social Security 

accounts for 19% of federal spending. 

Social Security not only points to fiscal 

and economic bankruptcy but also to political 

bankruptcy, as politicians unwilling 

to tell the hard truths to citizens tell them 

everything is OK. 

It’s time for leadership and truth. And it 

is time to give American citizens freedom 

to control their own property and their own 

lives in our free country. 

• • • 

Star Parker is president of the Center for 

Urban Renewal and Education and host of 

the weekly television show “Cure America 

with Star Parker.” 

© 2024 Creators.com 

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4 I OPINION I 



@WESTNEWSMAG 


LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 

Responding to Star Parker 

To the Editor: 

In response to Star Parker’s “A 

nation Dr. King would not recognize,” 

I appreciate how she has noted that the 

consequences of racism are still evident. 

However, I do not agree with her 

assertion that a decline in religion is the 

reason we’ve not progressed since Dr. 

King’s time. 

First, religion itself can be abused and 

misused. It was not completely an ally 

of Dr. King’s movement; after all, he 

addressed his “Letter from a Birmingham 

Jail” to some white pastors who had 

urged him to be more moderate. 

Second, values that confront racism – 

such as diversity, equity, and inclusion 

– have a base in religion but transcend 

religious boundaries and institutions. 

One does not need to be a churchgoer to 

discern “good and evil” and the necessity 

for “personal responsibility;” that which 

enslaves, dehumanizes and exploits are 

pretty clearly bad things. 

While I disagree with Ms. Parker’s 

premise, I do agree with her that religion 

can and should be a strong force 

for helping realize Dr. King’s dream. 

People of faith can be the ones inspired 

to catch that vision and organize and use 

resources to live into it. They are also 

the ones best able to reach out to those 

beyond the walls of the church and enlist 

their help in our joint cause to confront 

an evil that has plagued our country. 

Greg Weeks 

Responding to ‘Words and 

Politics’ 


Recent letter writer Mark T. Ryan (Jan 

24) used some interesting journalistic 

gymnastics to imply that America is a 

republic, but not a democracy and that 

democracies are inherently bad. 

He’s half-right but totally wrong. 

For the record, America is a representative 

democracy that functions beneath 

the umbrella of a constitutional republic. 

In essence, a democratic republic. To say 

we live in a republic is 100% factually 

correct. But to deny we have a democracy 

is not only totally misguided, it also 

has fascistic overtones. 

Mr. Ryan correctly states that “disinformation 

is deliberately false, used to 

influence opinions or obscure the truth.” 

Essentially, he’s describing Donald 

Trump’s lie about the 2020 election being 

stolen. Mr. Ryan would have us believe 

that a “misinformed populace” wouldn’t 

know any better, but how would he 

explain so many Republican officeholders 

repeating that lie, even though they 

all know better? 

He also states that “history is littered 

with collapsed democracies,” as 

if democracy was an inherently weak 

form of governance that is automatically 

doomed to failure. But doesn’t that 

ignore the fact that history is littered 

with all kinds of “collapsed” systems of 

governance? 

Or maybe Mr. Ryan was just thinking 

about what Adolf Hitler did to Germany. 

Or Vladimir Putin to Russia. Or Recep 

Erdogan to Turkey. Or Viktor Orban to 

Hungary. Or what Donald Trump will 

surely do to America if he is elected to 

be president again. 

Finally, Mr. Ryan makes the incredibly 

specious assertion that “democracies dislike 

the rights of individuals.” Nothing 

could be further from the truth. 

Communism and fascism don’t respect 

the rights of individuals. Monarchies, 

autocracies and dictatorships don’t 

respect the rights of individuals. Democracy 

is the only form of governance that 

does, in fact, respect the “rights of individuals,” 

because it’s the only form of 

governance that allows citizens to decide 

who they want to represent their interests. 

The one thing Mr. Ryan makes abundantly 

obvious is that an adequately 

(and accurately) informed populace who 

enjoys the benefits of living in a democracy 

is the No. 1 best system of governance. 

Kenneth P. Katt 

I need a jump 


With the recent frigid cold snap across 

the country, many stories have emerged 

in regard to electric vehicles (EVs) and 

how they have become tombstones on 

the side of roads, parking lots and driveways. 

Electric vehicles represent a significant 

shift in automotive technology, focusing 

on sustainability and efficiency. However, 

one critique lately being leveled 

against them concerns their performance 

in extremely cold weather conditions. 

First, it’s undeniable that cold temperatures 

can impact EV performance, 

particularly regarding battery efficiency. 

Lithium-ion batteries, which power most 

EVs, are known to experience reduced 

chemical activity in cold weather. This 

reduction can lead to decreased range 

and longer charging times, as the battery 

management systems work harder to 

maintain peak operating conditions. Yet 

have these issues been addressed by the 

mainstream media or dealerships? 

Still, it’s crucial to note that internal 

combustion engine vehicles also face 

winter challenges, such as decreased fuel 

efficiency, and potential battery failures. 

The narrative that EVs are uniquely disadvantaged 

in cold weather lacks context 

somewhat; all vehicles face hurdles in 

extreme conditions. 

Advances in battery technology, such 

as solid-state batteries, promise better 

cold-weather performance and quicker 

charging times. Additionally, many EVs 

now come equipped with thermal management 

systems to pre-condition and 

maintain battery temperatures, preserving 

range and battery health. Yet, did you 

know that the EV has a 12-volt battery as 

well as an internal combustion engine? 

This is for starting purposes like gasfueled 

vehicles and needs to be up to par 

as well. If you break down, the 12-volt 

battery has to be “jumped” like your 

gas car, before the EV system has to be 

attended to, like recharging. 

Infrastructure also plays a role. As EV 

adoption grows, the expansion of fastcharging 

networks and the integration 

of smart grid technologies can alleviate 

range anxiety, even in colder regions. 

While it’s valid to discuss the limitations 

of current EV technology in cold 

climates, it’s equally important to recognize 

the dynamic nature of this field. The 

transition to electric mobility is a journey, 

one where improvement and revision are 

driving us toward a more sustainable and 

efficient automotive future. 

Michael Sargent 

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6 I OPINION I 



@WESTNEWSMAG 


An Unexpected Tenant 

Law Matters 

The mother 

of a friend 

of ours 

died several 

months ago. 

Her mother 

had left 

her a house 

in Jefferson County by way of a 

beneficiary deed. A beneficiary deed 

is a real estate deed you sign during 

your life, but it isn’t effective until 

after you die. It’s a way to avoid 

probate. After the grantor dies, the 

recipient files an affidavit of death 

to make a record of the grantor’s 

death to complete the transfer. 

We prepared the affidavit, had the 

client sign it, and then recorded it. 

Our client also told us that a 

cousin had moved into the house. 

I asked why, and she didn’t know. 

The client talked to the cousin to 

tell her to leave, but the cousin 

refused, insisting that the house did 

not belong to our client’s mother 

in the first place. The grandparents 

had originally owned that house, 

and there were several children. We 

filed a petition to evict. 

After the petition was served on 

the cousin, I showed up in court 

hoping the defendant would fail 

to appear, and we would get a 

default judgement. No such luck. 

The cousin wanted a trial. She said 

she was going to hire an attorney 

(thank goodness). She also said that 

our client’s mother did not own 

the house alone but with the other 

siblings. Very curious. 

So, I asked my paralegal to see 

who had owned the house before 

our client’s mother. The problem 

was that the record was incomplete. 

So, we called the client to 

ask how her mother got title to 

the house. She said she wasn’t sure, 

but that the title company had 

prepared and filed the beneficiary 

deed. We normally check title 

before we prepare a beneficiary 

deed, but not here. 

The cousin has hired an attorney, 

and we have a trial date. I 

am worried that no one probated 

the grandparents’ estates. If that 

is the case, all of the children had 

an interest in the house. That just 

really complicates things. We’ll 

have to see where this ends up. I’m 

afraid we are going to have to do a 

determination of heirship petition. 

More court time! 

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Fred L. Vilbig is an attorney with over 30 

years of experience in the areas of wills 

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purposes only. Nothing herein should be 

treated as legal advice or as creating an 

attorney-client relationship. The choice 

of a lawyer is an important decision 

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EDITORIAL 

Lessons from … 

a dog-cloning Argentinian? 

OK, so if you have only read the headlines about new Argentinian president 

Javier Milei you might come away thinking he is an odd duck. You would be 

100%, unequivocally correct. 

Milei is a self-styled “anarcho-capitalist,” who sports a truly bizarre 1970’s 

drug kingpin haircut, and regularly communes with his dead pet mastiff. Oh, 

by the way, he had said mastiff cloned four times over and is routinely photographed 

with the herd of massive canines. So yes, Milei is pretty weird. 

He also might be the only guy who can save Argentina and maybe, just 

maybe, the entire Western world. The lessons he is teaching are stark, scary 

and hugely important. With that in mind, we are going to share some excerpts 

of the speech he gave at the World Economic Forum in Davos recently. 

But before that, let’s quickly recount where Argentina was when Milei took 

over a few months ago. Inflation stood at 143% and the country owed some $43 

billion in unpaid import bills. Forty percent of the country lived in poverty. The 

Argentine peso had lost 90% of its value. Despite all that, Milei had the courage 

to stand in front of the world’s wealthiest people and say things like: 

• Today I’m here to tell you that the Western world is in danger. And it is in 

danger because those who are supposed to have to defend the values of the 

West are co-opted by a vision of the world that inexorably leads to socialism 

and thereby to poverty. 

• When you look at per capita GDP since the year 1800 until today, what you 

will see is that after the Industrial Revolution, global per capita GDP multiplied 

by over 15 times, which meant a boom in growth that lifted 90% of the global 

population out of poverty. 

• Far from being the cause of our problems, free trade capitalism as an 

economic system is the only instrument we have to end hunger, poverty and 

extreme poverty across our planet. 

• Those who promote social justice start with the idea that the whole economy 

is a pie that can be shared differently. But that pie is not a given. 

• But if the state punishes capitalists when they’re successful and gets in 

the way of the discovery process, they will destroy their incentives, and the 

consequence is that they will produce less. The pie will be smaller, and this will 

harm society as a whole. 

• Countries that have more freedom are 12 times richer than those that are 

repressed. The lowest percentile in free countries is better off than 90% of 

the population in repressed countries. Poverty is 25 times lower and extreme 

poverty is 50 times lower. And citizens in free countries live 25% longer than 

citizens in repressed countries. 

• It should never be forgotten that socialism is always and everywhere an 

impoverishing phenomenon that has failed in all countries where it’s been tried 

out. It’s been a failure economically, socially, culturally and it also murdered 

over 100 million human beings. 

• Do not be intimidated by the political caste or by parasites who live off the 

state. Do not surrender to a political class that only wants to stay in power and 

retain its privileges. You are social benefactors. You are heroes. You are the 

creators of the most extraordinary period of prosperity we’ve ever seen. 

Powerful words from a man who speaks to his deceased pet. The full speech 

is available at weforum.org, search “davos 2024 milei.” 

Follow us on 

(636) 537-7884 | fvilbig@lawmatters.llc | www.lawmatters.llc

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8 I NEWS I 



@WESTNEWSMAG 


NEWS 

BRIEFS 

BALLWIN 

Bodies found after 

wellness call 

A well-meaning mail carrier called Ballwin 

Police for a wellness check on Tuesday, 

Jan. 30, at a home on Sunnyslope Drive 

after the mailbox at that location became 

overly full. Once inside, officers found two 

deceased individuals whose bodies were 

already in a state of decay. 

At press time, an autopsy was underway 

to discover the identity of the persons and 

their cause of death. 

“They don’t believe there was any foul 

play exterior-wise,” Officer Mark Reckert 

from the Ballwin Police Department said 

at the time. “They are not sure what actually 

happened due to the state of the bodies 

and how early on the investigation was; 

that’s why the medical examiner came out. 

They retrieved the bodies, and the medical 

examiner will be doing an investigation on 

their end.” 

CHESTERFIELD 

Athletic complex to get 

weather alert system 

A new weather alert system for the Chesterfield 

Valley Athletic Complex (CVAC) 

will give patrons access to weather delays 

in real time from their smartphones. 

Approved for purchase by the City 

Council at its Jan 16 meeting, the system 

will serve as both a proactive weather notification 

system and an emergency management 

tool. 

The CVAC has 21 outdoor ball diamonds, 

10 multi-purpose fields, six baseball/softball 

practice fields and six sand volleyball 

courts. 

“The largest protection is that it will identify 

conditions where lightning is possible,” 

said Mike Geisel, city administrator. “That 

allows an alarm system to activate and get 

players off of the fields.” 

Geisel said the alert system can also be 

used for various other security occurrences, 

but the primary driver is to identify weather 

and lightning hazards before they are close 

enough to be visible. 

“By that time, it’s too late,” he said. 

The city chose the Perry Weather system 

at a cost of $47,500. 

The system includes four alert stations 

that will cover the entire complex. 

It is the only system with text-to-speech 

On Feb. 21, Dolly Parton’s Pet Gala will premiere on CBS 

and Paramount+, and West County’s very own Moxie will 

be walking the pink carpet with companion Katie Harris. 

The dynamic duo are the driving force behind the nonprofit 

Moxie’s Mission. Learn more at adventureswithmoxie.com. 

The two-hour special will feature performances and 

appearances by Parton and other country artists. 

public address capability through the 

CVAC’s speakers, TW Dieckmann, director 

of parks, recreation and arts, said. 

According to Dieckmann, the text-tospeech 

option also gives staff the ability 

to use the system for more than lightning 

delays, such as personalized messages 

announcing a lost child. 

It also allows the option to add a QR 

code to the city’s webpage to allow players 

to see how long they will wait on a lightning 

delay. 

The system’s installation is expected to 

be completed before CVAC games resume 

in March 2024. 

P&Z gives nod to 

marijuana dispensary 

The city of Chesterfield is likely to get its 

second marijuana dispensary. 

It will be located on a 1-acre tract of land 

north of Chesterfield Airport Road, west 

of Jaguar Land Rover Way, and south of 

Arnage Road. 

Stock & Associates Consulting Engineers, 

on behalf of Morganic Ventures 

LLC., has submitted a site development 

plan for a proposed 4,405 square feet retail 

sales building with a drive-thru on undeveloped 

land along Chesterfield Airport 

Road. 

The subdivision was previously rezoned 

to a planned commercial district with “car 

wash” as a permitted use. A site development 

section plan for Scrubbles Carwash 

was subsequently approved and is currently 

under construction. 

The development will be accessed by one 

shared drive entering from Arnage Road. 

Morganic Ventures is seeking a parking 

modification of 20% to allow 30 parking 

spaces. A sidewalk is required to be constructed 

along Arnage and Chesterfield 

Airport roads. 

Currently, Hippos is the only other marijuana 

dispensary in Chesterfield. It is also 

located on Chesterfield Airport Road. 

The city’s Planning and Zoning Commission 

approved the site development plan at 

its Jan. 22 meeting. 

CREVE COEUR 

City Council votes for 

elected officials’ pay raise 

The Creve Coeur City Council has followed 

suit with several other local municipalities 

in voting to increase the salaries of 

its members and mayor. 

“(City Clerk) Kellie Henke helped us 

compile a survey of area cities’ salaries of 

mayor and council. Under our charter, this 

is to be reviewed on a quinquennial (every 

five years) basis. It is time for that review,” 

Perkins said. 

The chart showed salaries for mayors and 

council/board members of 12 area municipalities, 

Creve Coeur ranks eighth in both 

areas. Perkins said he believes it’s been 15 

years since his city’s rates were increased. 

He noted that if the council decided to 

increase its and the mayor’s pay rates this 

year, those changes would only go into 

effect following the election or re-election 

of a new or continuing mayor or member. 

“For some, the new amount would come 

into play in April of 2024,” Perkins said. 

There was almost unanimous agreement 

that the mayor’s compensation should rise 

at least $100 a month. 

“If we wait another five years, the mayor’s 

salary would be even more below 

average,” council member Heather Silverman 

(Ward 1) said. 

However, that agreement was immediately 

followed by banter regarding council 

member pay. 

“I agree with an increase for the mayor, 

but I also think as far as city council is concerned, 

15 years is a long time,” council 

member Nicole Greer (Ward 2) said. “I 

would support an additional $100 for city 

council as well. For the amount of time we 

spend and the things we do, I don’t think 

$100 is that unreasonable.” 

Greer made a motion to increase both 

salaries by $100 per month. 

But council member Joe Martinich 

(Ward 4) disagreed, saying the elected 

officials’ salaries should be increased by 

the same percentage bumping the mayor’s 

salary up $150 a month (to $750) while 

council member’s salaries would increase 

$100 per month (to $500). 

The motion to increase the mayor’s 

salary by $150 per month was passed with 

council member Sari Neudorf (Ward 3)





I NEWS I 9 

opposed. The council increase also passed 

but only after Mayor Robert Hoffman cast 

the deciding vote to break a 4-4 deadlock. 

Holocaust Museum 

offers new workshops 

The St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust 

Museum launches a new, year-long 

series on Feb. 18. The “Change Begins 

with YOU” workshop series will continue 

through December. It is part of the 

museum’s “Change Begins with Us” initiative, 

which empowers St. Louisans to collectively 

fight against antisemitism and all 

forms of hate. 

“‘Change Begins with YOU’ is a 

reminder that we cannot do everything, but 

we can all do something to make the world 

a better place,” said Executive Director 

Myron Freedman. “These six workshops, 

led by the museum’s core staff team, will 

give each participant the tools they need to 

become an Active Ally, and fight against 

hate and bigotry in their daily lives.” 

Participants who sign up for all six 

workshops will receive a complimentary 

branded notebook and pen and receive 

one workshop free. Those wanting to take 

advantage of the discount will need to use 

the code “BUNDLE” at checkout. 

Change Begins with YOU includes the 

following sessions, all begin at 1 p.m.: 

• Feb. 18: Never Again is Now: Fighting 

Antisemitism, from Words to Action 

• April 21: From Genocide to Ethnic 

Cleansing: Why Our Words Matter 

• June 9: Taming the Digital Wildfire: 

Media Literacy in the Internet Age 

• Aug. 18: The Human Cost of Dehumanizing 

Language 

• Nov. 17: The Pitfalls of Wokeness: The 

Pros & Cons of DEI 

• Dec. 8: Awareness to Action: How YOU 

Can Become and Active Ally 

Individuals interested in signing up for a 

workshop, or the series, can visit 

stlholocaustmuseum.org/change-beginswith-us. 

Ballas Road improvements 

A bill for the execution of a Surface 

Transportation Block Grant (STBG) Program 

with the Missouri Highways and 

Transportation Commission was introduced 

at the Jan. 8 Creve Coeur Council 

meeting. At the same time, the council supported 

a resolution granting those Phase 2 

Conway Road to Ladue Road improvement 

plans to Horner & Shifrin, Inc. 

After unanimously passing that legislation 

at the Jan. 22 council meeting, City 

Engineer Steve Berecz shifted his sights 

to the next step – a resolution calling for 

Horner & Shifrin to handle the work for 

Phase 3, which is the Ladue Road to Magna 

Carta Drive segment of Ballas Road. 

For this item, the city was awarded a federal 

Transportation Alternatives Program 

(TAP) grant in 2021. But it was later found 

that the water main running along the 425 

N. New Ballas property was very shallow 

and had to be relocated. 

“In front of you tonight is an item that 

was originally presented to you back in 

2021,” Berecz said. “The design was 

about 75% completed for the sidewalk 

project just north of the post office on 

Ballas Road. It’s kind of a small, but complex 

project with a retaining wall, and as 

the design moved forward, a water main 

had to be relocated. With the grant at that 

point, the city didn’t have the funds to do 

it. So, we took a pause, went back and 

reapplied for more federal monies for this 

project. So, the grant is paying for most 

of the construction. The contract is not to 

exceed $50,000.” 

In 2023, Creve Coeur re-applied for the 

grant with water main relocation costs 

included and was recently notified that the 

application was successful. The funds will 

be used to help with construction costs for 

sidewalk and retaining wall improvements 

at 425 N. New Ballas Road and at the post 

office at 331 N. New Ballas. 

Through council member conversations, 

the resolution was modified to note that the 

city will try not to move the retaining wall 

any closer to Ballas, which would further 

obstruct the view of traffic. 

The resolution passed unanimously. 

Construction is set for spring 2026. 

MANCHESTER 

Officer of the Year recognized 

Family, coworkers and city officials were 

present at the Manchester Justice Center on 

Jan. 16 to honor Police Officer Asmir Zeric 

for the work he’s done for the Manchester 

Police Department. 

Chief Scott Will presented Zeric with 

the Officer of the Year award at the Board 

of Aldermen meeting, where he lauded 

Zeric’s achievements. 

Calling Zeric a team player, he said, “He 

is one of the guys who’s always willing 

to step up and help out the other officers. 

He’s mentored quite a few officers, some 

of them who are back here in the back. Just 

a really class act. What I’m trying to say in 

a long span is that he’s done an excellent 

job and we’re very proud of him.” 

Zeric came to the Manchester Police 

Department in February 2020 after previously 

serving with the Normandy Police 

See NEWS BRIEFS, page 15 

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10 I NEWS I 



Missouri lawmakers look to repeal sales tax 

on food; municipalities prepare to fight 

@WESTNEWSMAG 


By SHWETHA SUNDARRAJAN 

A new year means a renewed effort by 

Missouri’s politicians to push forward 

another bill to eliminate the sales tax on 

food items – the third such attempt in as 

many years. 

Missouri lawmakers have filed six 

House bills for the current legislative 

session of the General Assembly, which 

aim to eliminate the sales and use taxes 

on food, beginning in January 2025. Two 

bills also have been put forth by state senators. 

Those propose to eliminate the state 

sales on food, now at 1.225%, which supports 

the Missouri School District Trust 

Fund. Monies from the fund are distributed 

monthly to schools statewide to be 

used at their discretion. The distribution 

is determined using a weighted daily average 

attendance formula. 

The bills 

For the purpose of those bills, food 

includes only those products and types of 

food for which food stamps (SNAP benefits) 

may be redeemed. 

House Bill 2401, filed by Rep. Crystal 

Quade (D-District 132), differs from the 

other four House bills in that it would 

reduce state and local sales taxes and use 

taxes on food at 1.5% of the rate imposed 

in the base year of 2025 until those taxes 

reach zero. Quade represents Greene 

County. 

House Bill 1418 filed by Rep. Robert 

Sauls (D-021) and House Bill 1464 filed 

by Rep. Chris Sander (R-District 033) also 

seeks to eliminate the state sales or use tax, 

and local sales and use tax on the retail sale 

of food. 

Sauls and Sander represent districts 

within Jackson County, which is located in 

the western portion of the state and borders 

Kansas. 

In 2022, Kansas passed legislation to 

be enacted in three phases. Phase 1 began 

in January 2023, dropping the state sales 

tax on groceries from 6.5% to 4%. This 

year, the tax will drop an additional 2% on 

food, food ingredients and certain prepared 

foods. Phase 3 will see the tax reach zero 

on Jan. 1, 2025. 

St. Charles Rep. Adam Schnelting 

(R-District 69) says his bill (House Bill 

2174) differs from the other similar pieces 

of legislation in that it leaves the municipal 

taxes in place. 

“So my bill actually doesn’t address the 

municipality,” Schnelting explained. “It 

doesn’t repeal the sales tax for municipalities 

that they place on food, this is just the 

state portion.” 

That’s not the case for House Bills 

2055 and 2273 filed by Rep. Ben Keathley 

(R-District 101) and Rep. Chris Dinkins 

(R-District 144), respectively, which 

would repeal local sales and use taxes on 

retail food purchases in equal increments 

over a period of four years, resulting in a 

(Adobe Stock photo) 

zero food tax by Jan. 1, 2029. 

Keathley represents 

Chesterfield, while Dinkins 

represents the counties of 

Wayne, Shannon, Madison, 

Reynolds, Iron, Washington 

and Bollinger. 

Missouri senators Mary 

Elizabeth Coleman (R-District 

22) and Holly Thompson 

Rehder (R-District 27) also 

have filed bills that would 

eliminate the state food tax, 

beginning Jan. 1, 2025, and 

in four equal reductions, 

eliminate local sales and use 

taxes on food, culminating in 

zero on Jan. 1, 2029. Coleman 

represents Arnold and 

parts of Jefferson County, while Rehder 

represents the counties of Bollinger, Cape 

Girardeau, Iron, Madison, Perry, Reynolds 

and Scott. 

In 2023, a similar bill filed by Coleman 

went the furthest in the legislative 

process but still fell short of passage. In a 

Senate hearing in February 2023, Coleman 

declared food as a necessity. “And I find 

taxes that are essential items are some of 

the most regressive, harming the poor, and 

not the way to fund our state government,” 

she said. 

Keathley shares that concern. 

“I think it’s important (that) we look at 

necessities and things, (and) for governments 

to be completely funded off of 

taxing people for stuff that they have to 

buy,” Keathley said. “To me it is wrong. 

And when that mountain is going up and 

up on people like crazy with inflation, 

and with other economic pressures, that’s 

where we’re squeezing people the hardest, 

and the people we’re squeezing are the 

people who can least afford to pay that tax.” 

However, municipalities statewide have 

voiced concern about local tax revenue 

losses and defeated the legislation in 2022 

and 2023. This year, local municipalities 

are speaking out again. 

See FOOD TAX, page 18 

Confused about caucuses? Here’s what you need to know 

By KATE UPTERGROVE 

It’s been a while since Missouri held a 

caucus to determine who will be on the 

August Primary ballot for president. In 

recent years, the first step in determining 

the state’s presidential nominee has been 

a Presidential Preference Primary held in 

March. Not so this year. 

Legislation passed in 2022 did away 

with the open primary, which allowed 

voters to cast a ballot without declaring a 

party affiliation, to a closed system that has 

Republicans voting for Republicans and 

Democrats voting for Democrats. 

The Republicans will conduct their 

caucus in person, at 10 a.m. on March 2 at 

locations across the state. The Democrats 

will collect their votes by mail. Locally, the 

Republicans will caucus by Congressional 

District at: 

• 1st Congressional District – University 

of Missouri-St. Louis (South Campus), 

2993 South Drive, St. Louis, MO 63121 

• 2nd Congressional District – Parkway 

West High School, 14653 Clayton Road, 

Ballwin, MO 63011 

The Democratic Party will hold an inperson, 

party-run presidential preference 

primary election in every county on March 

23. Votes may be cast in person from 8 

a.m.-noon; however, the party had yet to 

identify polling places by press time. 

Mail-in ballots will be made available 

to registered Democrats beginning Feb. 

12. They must be returned to the Missouri 

Democratic Party prior to March 23. 

Missouri residents can register to vote 

and check or declare their party affiliation 

on the Secretary of State’s website (sos. 

mo.gov). However, time is limited as party 

preference for Democrats must be declared 

prior to mid-February. 

Requests for mail-in ballots can be sent 

to the MDP (missouridems.org) from Feb. 

1 through March 12. 

In a Jan. 14 interview with Marshall 

Griffin, of Show Me Today, Secretary of 

State Jay Ashcroft said the main difference 

between caucuses and primaries is 

that “with an election, you walk in, prove 

your identity, get your ballot, fill it out and 

you’re done.” 

“With a caucus, it will be a longer process 

where you will be together with individuals 

at a caucus site,” Ashcroft said. 

“They will lock the doors at 10 a.m. and, 

as we used to say when we were out in the 

woods, the cussing and discussing starts. 

People actually have the opportunity to 

give speeches and say why Candidate A is 

better than Candidate B. 

“It’s a much more involved process of 

figuring out who’s best.” 

Ashcroft noted that the process, which 

he defined as “old-school democracy, civic 

participation,” can take a few hours up to a 

half-day, or more. 

Following the campaign terminations of 

Doug Burgum, Chris Christie, Tim Scott 

and Ron DeSantis, the remaining Republican 

candidates to be voted on at the caucus 

are Donald Trump, Nikki Haley and David 

Stuckenberg. 

While President Joe Biden is the 

expected presidential nominee; other 

candidates that could be on the presidential 

preference ballot are author 

Marianne Williamson in her second 

bid for the presidency and Minnesota 

Congressman Dean Phillips, Stephen P. 

Lyons, Armando Perez-Serrato and Jason 

Michael Palmer. 

The Missouri Libertarian party is hosting 

its caucus at its statewide conference on 

Feb. 24. The conference is at Holiday Inn 

Earth City and registration is open now on 

the party’s website (lpmo.org).

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12 I NEWS I 



Town hall addresses growing Fentanyl concern 

By LAURA BROWN 

“One Pill Can Kill” is the message the 

Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) wants 

everyone to know when they think about 

the opioid fentanyl. 

DEA agents were on hand at a town hall 

meeting on Jan. 25 in Ballwin to share 

information about the increase of fentanyl 

in drugs bought on the street in the St. Louis 

region. The event was hosted by St. Louis 

County Council member Mark Harder 

(R-District 7) in order to share information 

about the One Pill Can Kill campaign. 

“It’s like playing Russian roulette,” Harder 

said. “You don’t know if that one pill is 

going to kill you, or the fifth pill. Fentanyl is 

here in West County. It’s everywhere.” 

It’s not just drug addicts dying from taking 

pills bought on the streets. Because such a 

small amount of the opioid can kill a person, 

just 2 milligrams, the one pill that can kill 

might be the first one a person ever takes. 

Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid drug 

approved for use as a pain reliever and anesthetic. 

According to the DEA, it is approximately 

100 times more potent than morphine 

and 50 times more potent than heroin. DEA 

agent Guy Gomez said fentanyl is commonly 

mixed with other drugs like heroin 

and cocaine, and then made into pills that 

resemble other prescription drugs like Adderall, 

Xanax or prescription pain medications. 

He said people who buy the pills on the street 

might not know there is fentanyl in the pill 

they’ve bought until it’s too late. Laboratory 

testing showed seven out of every 10 pills 

seized by the DEA contain a lethal dose of 

fentanyl. Gomez shared that the DEA has 

seized a record 75 million fentanyl pills in 

2023, up from 58 million in 2022. In Missouri 

there were 2,181 overdose deaths in 

2022, compared to 2,163 in 2021. The statistics 

also show that heroin use is down, while 

pill use is on the rise. 

“We look at heroin as dirty because 

people use needles to shoot it into their arm,” 

Gomez said. “A fake pill looks medicinal. 

It’s easier to take and doesn’t have that 

stigma. We’ve been conditioned to accept 

(taking pills) more than shooting heroin.” 

Gomez warned there is no quality control 

in the places where the fake pills laced 

with fentanyl are made and that only drugs 

prescribed by a doctor and bought at a 

pharmacy can be trusted. 

“Every pill and content of each pill is 

random,” Gomez said. “Even if they know 

the drug dealer and they trust the relationship. 

But you can’t trust the drug because 

there are no standards where those 

drugs were made.” 

The DEA reports that precursers 

for manufacturing fentanyls usually 

come from India and China. 

Then, in its powdered form, it is 

sent to Mexico where it is pressed 

into pills, or is sumggled into the 

United States where it is processed 

and mixed with heroin or pressed 

into pills. 

A new drug that agents are finding 

on the streets is xylazine. It’s a 

sedative used on large animals by 

veterinarians. People who take it 

experience similar effects as opioids 

and can become addicted to it, Gomez said. 

It’s dangerous because narcan, the drug used 

to reverse opioid overdoses, does not work 

on those who overdose on xylazine. 

“We need you to be advocates in this,” 

Gomez said. “Be advocates for your family 

and your neighbors. Three hundred people 

a day are dying from drug overdoses. That’s 

the amount of people who fit on one commercial 

airplane dying every day. Would 

you allow a plane to crash every day? No. 

You would figure out why the planes are 

falling out of the sky.” 

To help parents of teens Gomez shared 

@WESTNEWSMAG 


(Laura Brown photo) 

common emojis used on social media to 

reference drugs and recommends parents 

check their kid’s phone to look for signs of 

drug use. Drug dealers also use the emojis 

to advertise and conduct sales. 

Several other organizations had booths 

at the town hall, sharing information and 

assistance for those with loved ones who 

are addicts. 

Missouri American Water was there to 

spread the word that drugs should not be 

flushed down toilets because of possible 

See FENTANYL, next page 

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LOWER LEVEL NEAR JCPENNEY



Fischer & Frichtel seeks to expand 

The Villages at Brightleaf in Wildwood 

By CATHY LENNY 

Fischer & Frichtel Custom Homes is 

looking to do an expansion of The Villages 

at Brightleaf in Wildwood’s Town Center. 

While a concept plan was presented to the 

city in July, the public hearing was just 

held on Tuesday, Jan. 16. 

At the Planning and Zoning (P&Z) 

Commission meeting, Chris DeGuentz, 

of Fischer & Frichtel, explained that The 

Pointe at Brightleaf expansion would be 

structurally similar to The Villages. 

The expansion is proposed for an 8.34- 

acre lot at the northeast corner of Hwy. 

100 and Hwy. 109, adjacent to The Villages. 

The 31 single-family homes would 

have the same villa concept with grounds 

maintenance included. 

When Fischer & Frichtel constructed 

The Villages, they extended Taylor Road, 

parallel to Hwy. 100 and connected it 

to old Eatherton Road, DeGuentz said. 

Access to the new property would be off 

of the new Taylor Road. 

“The intent is to carry that planning 

concept further by enhancing Taylor Road 

along the frontage of this property, widening 

it so that it’s the same standard as 

the rest of it ... and creating side streets 

that have these small pockets of homes on 

them,” he said. 

A continuous buffer would surround the 

site, DeGuentz added. 

The site would also have a walking trail 

and stormwater would drain down to a 

lake with a fountain, which would help 

serve as a buffer and also a beatification 

feature at that corner, DeGuentz said. 

Vegetation outside the property boundary 

lines would remain as well. 

He pointed out that the proposal would 

have a consistent planning concept, architecture 

and design standards and serve 

as a continuation of Brightleaf. It was 

implied that those features would be more 

desirable than the commercial 3-story, 

The Villages at Brightleaf (Source: Fischer & Frichtel) 

60,000-square-foot building that could be 

built there. 

But commissioner Scott Jackson was 

hesitant. 

“You’re going to take a commercial 

property, you’re going to clean up an 

unkempt property,” he said. Then asked, 

“You’re going to put residential with no 

direct access to 109 or 100?” 

Other residents were skeptical too. 

Felecity McGowen thinks it looks like 

a “lovely plan,” but she wanted to know 

more about how the developer planned to 

handle the traffic. 

“There’s probably at least one accident 

a day, if not more, that block the entrance 

to our neighborhood,” she said. “It’s quite 

hazardous.” 

Steve Collins noted that the firehouse 

on Hwy. 109 already produces a lot of 

noise for nearby residents. 

“Removal of all the green space in there 

is going to make that worse,” Collins predicted. 

“It’s an environmental injustice to 

us ... the noise level in that area is going 

to be ridiculous.” 

The developer is seeking a request for 

modification to the Town Center Regulating 

Plan and a change in zoning from 

commercial to residential to enable The 

Pointe at Brightleaf. 

No vote was taken at the meeting. 



I NEWS I 13 

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FENTANYL, from previous 

water contamination. Nar-Anon Midwest 

Region had a booth to share information 

about their support groups for people 

affected by someone else’s addiction. The 

Alliance for a Healthy Community was 

there and so was H.E.A.L: Heroin Education 

and Awareness League were giving out 

lock bags for medication kept at home to 

keep prescribed drugs safe. Ellis Fitzwalter 

of H.E.A.L. gave a demonstration on how to 

administer naloxone, also known as narcan, 

to someone having an opioid overdose. St. 

Louis County offers narcan for free at all St. 

Louis County Public Library locations. 

Larry Shelton, a Ballwin resident, said 

he came to learn about resources available 

for those with family members who are 

addicts because he has adult children who 

are addicts and wants to get them help. 

“I’m searching for answers,” Shelton 

said. “A lot of parents, especially of older 

children, don’t understand addiction.” 

For more information about the DEA’s 

fentanyl initiative visit dea.gov. 

636.458.8400 • WWW.FOREFRONTDERMATOLOGY.COM 

16516 MANCHESTER ROAD • WILDWOOD, MO 63040

14 I NEWS I 



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The General Assembly is back in session, 

but given the fact that the Senate has 

already experienced a two-week filibuster 

that pitted members of 

the same party against 

each other, many would 

say its not off to a productive 

start. 

On Jan. 25, Sen. Cindy 

O’Laughlin (R-District 

18) told a group of 

reporters gathered for 

Missouri Press Association 

Day at the Capitol 

that she would hold a 

vote to remove Sen. Bill 

Eigel (R-District 23) 

from the Senate if she 

knew she had the votes. 

O’Laughlin, who represents 

Northeast Missouri, is the majority 

floor leader. Eigel, of Weldon Spring, is a 

vocal member of the state-level Freedom 

Caucus, which refused to do any work, 

including approving a slate of governor 

appointees, until movement on their initiative 

petition legislation took place. 

In its simplest terms, the current initiative 

petition process allows citizens to 

collect signatures on a petition to place a 

constitution amendment on a ballot, where 

a simple majority is needed for passage. 

Changes proposed by Republicans would 

add various requirements 

that would make 

it more difficult to 

amend the state Constitution. 

“I don’t think at anytime, 

in this chamber, 

anyone has tied up the 

floor and stopped every 

Senator from advancing 

their bills more than 

you,” O’Laughlin told 

Eigel on Jan. 25 on the 

Senate floor. 

The filibuster effectively 

ended on Jan. 30 when the Senate 

approved Gov. Mike Parson’s appointees 

to state office. As of press time, Senate 

President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden (R-District 

19) had assigned hundreds of bills to 

committees. Among that legislation were 

bills aimed at changing the initiative petition 

process. 

While in Jefferson City, West Newsmagazine 

met with several state representatives 

to discuss their priorities for the legislative 

session that runs through May 17. 

Rep. Dave Hinman (R-District 103), who 

@WESTNEWSMAG 


Missouri General Assembly kicks 

off legislative session amid turmoil 

Eigel 

O’Laughlin 

Sen. Cindy O’Laughlin to 

Sen. Bill Eigel: 

“I don’t think at anytime, 

in this chamber, anyone 

has tied up the floor and 

stopped every Senator 

from advancing their bills 

more than you.” 

represents parts of O’Fallon, is sponsoring 

a bill that will move municipal and board 

of education candidate filing forward by 

one week to avoid the end of filing time 

from falling during winter holidays when 

most school districts and municipal city 

halls are closed for business. This would 

prevent officials from having to open 

buildings for the sole purpose of accepting 

candidate applications. For December 

2023, the Parkway School District changed 

its filing procedure, requiring candidates to 

register with the St. Louis County Board 

of Elections rather than the school district. 

Rep. Phillip Oehlerking (R-District 100), 

who represents Ballwin, would require 

public schools to implement parental consent 

procedures for students with individualized 

education programs (IEP). Written 

parental consent would be required for initial 

placement, annual placement or other 

revisions or changes to a student’s IEP as 

outlined in the bill. The aim is to put more 

power into the hands of parents, Oehlerking 

said. 

Oehlerking is also sponsoring legislation 

that would place two more trustees on the 

Public School Retirement System Board, 

bringing the number of trustees to 13. The 

additional two trustees would be appointed 

by the Missouri Public Charter School 

Association, giving charter school teachers 

representation on the state board. 

Rep. Tricia Byrnes (R-District 63), who 

represents Wentzville, also is sponsoring 

a bill that gives parents 

more rights when it 

comes to IEPs. 

Additionally, she has 

sponsored an antibullying 

bill called the Missouri 

Childhood Hero 

Act. The bill would 

require the Department 

of Elementary and Secondary 

Education to 

develop a model policy 

that each school district 

must adopt to address 

bullying and school discipline. 

The policy includes a restriction 

on zero-tolerance disciplinary policies and 

mandatory training for district employees 

and volunteers. 

Rep. Ben Keathley (R-District 101), representing 

Chesterfield, introduced a bill 

that prohibits restraining a child during a 

juvenile court proceeding. Keathley also 

introduced a bill limiting the pay of public 

school district superintendents to five-anda-half 

times the total compensation of a 

See MO PRESS DAY, next page





I NEWS I 15 

NEWS BRIEFS, from page 9 

Department. Along with being a field training 

officer, Zeric also occasionally serves 

as a Bosniak translator. 

WILDWOOD 

Research use at Fahr 

Greenhouse denied 

Residents in Wildwood were jubilant 

when the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission 

(P&Z) voted to deny land use 

modifications that would have allowed 

agricultural research and development 

activities in a non-urban setting. 

Solis Real Estate had proposed to use 

the Fahr Greenhouse facility located at 

18944 St. Albans Road for research and 

development of agricultural products. 

The 5-acre property is located on the 

south side of St. Albans Road, west of 

Hwy. 100. It had been a family business 

for decades, growing flowers and plants. 

Solis acquired the property in 2022 and 

recently had hoped to conduct research 

and development there to increase plant 

yields, improve drought resistance, 

encourage the use of less soil additives, 

and promote goals relative to growth in 

food production. 

To that end, Solis needed the city to 

approve modifications to the site’s current 

land use regulations, as well as a 

conditional use permit (CUP). However, 

residents were adamantly opposed to 

allowing R&D activities at this site, with 

chemical runoff being a big concern. 

Although the P&Z initially endorsed 

modifications to the land use, Commissioner 

Vicki Helfrey said she now 

believes the scale of the project is too 

large and that it leaves too many doors 

open. The enabling legislation was denied 

on its second reading. 

Mayor Jim Bowlin said the wide expansion 

of non-urban uses is not in the best 

interest of the city or its residents. 

ST. LOUS COUNTY 

Volunteers sought to make 

dreams come true 

Make-A-Wish Missouri & Kansas is 

asking for the public’s help to ensure the 

wishes of local wish kids battling critical 

illness come true. The nonprofit is seeking 

volunteers to become Wish Granters 

for the organization. 

Wish Granters meet with Wish Kids 

and their families to learn what the child 

would like to receive for their one true 

wish and help coordinate that experience 

with the Make-A-Wish team. Currently, 

there are over 650 children throughout 

Missouri & Kansas who are waiting for 

their wish to be granted and those wishes 

rely on volunteer Wish Granters to help 

make them come true. Some training is 

required to become a volunteer Wish 

Granter, but organizers say the impact it 

Freezing weather is here! 

makes on both the child’s life and the volunteers 

is immeasurable. 

“Wish Granters play a crucial role in 

ensuring that children receive their one 

true wish experience, and it’s an opportunity 

that gives back in a lot of incredible 

ways,” said Brian Miller, vice president of 

marketing and communications at Make- 

A-Wish Missouri & Kansas. 

In addition to Wish Granters, volunteer 

opportunities include being an event organizer 

or an interpreter/translator. 

Individuals interested in volunteering 

can learn more and get started at wish.org/ 

mokan/volunteer. 

MO PRESS DAY, from previous 

beginning teacher’s salary in that district. 

Rep. Justin Sparks (R-District 110), 

representing Wildwood, is sponsoring Valentine’s 

Law, a bill named for St. Louis 

County Police Det. Tony Valentine, who 

was killed by a suspect fleeing police. The 

suspect crashed his car into Valentine’s 

police vehicle, killing them both. Valentine’s 

Law would make fleeing from police 

in a vehicle a class D felony with a mandatory 

one-year prison sentence. The offense 

becomes a class B felony when, as a result 

of the fleeing, the person causes physical 

injury to another person. It becomes a class 

A felony if the fleeing person causes death 

to another person. 

To learn more about these bills and others 

sponsored by local legislators, visit house. 

mo.gov and senate.mo.gov to look up these 

and other elected officials. 

Slips and falls affect us all. 

Frost, ice and snow are particularly dangerous for our seniors. 

If you slip, give us a call! 

95% of our rehab residents return to home. 

EXPERTS IN DEMENTIA CARE 

gardenviewcarecenter.com 

636-537-3333 | CHESTERFIELD 

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636-240-2840 | O’FALLON

16 I NEWS I 



@WESTNEWSMAG 


Chesterfield Mall tenants prepare for final exodus Chesterfield Mall turns 50 

By CATHY LENNY 

Tenants are preparing for the 

demise of Chesterfield Mall as 

Aug. 31 will be its final day. But the 

recently released date should come as 

no surprise, according to Tim Lowe, 

senior vice president of development 

with The Staenberg Group (TSG). 

“We were always planning to close 

in August to accommodate demolition 

planned for the fall,” Lowe said. 

TSG is planning a sprawling 

development over nearly 100 acres 

with office buildings, luxury condos, 

apartments, hotels, retail, restaurants and 

entertainment venues. The project has 

been in the works for years. 

Chesterfield Mall opened in 1976 and 

comprised more than 1 million square feet 

of retail space. But like other malls across 

the country, it lost its appeal to online 

shoppers and stores began to close. 

The mall’s foreclosure was finalized in 

2017; after which, TSG Downtown Chesterfield 

Redevelopment began acquiring 

portions of the mall and the surrounding 

properties. 

Chesterfield Mall 

(Elaine Collins photo) 

Michael Staenberg of TSG completed 

the purchase of the mall property in 2020. 

While plans for the redevelopment were 

still underway, TSG decided to open up 

the mall for business owners and nonprofit 

organizations. Tenants were able to rent 

space on a short-term basis at a low cost. 

There are currently 80-90 tenants. 

Short-term leasing opportunities 

allowed an opportunity to thrive for nonprofit 

groups and incubator start-ups with 

no place to go, Lowe said. 

While there are still some retail establishments 

and restaurants, it has 

mainly been used for recreational 

and entertainment activities. On any 

given day there will be sports enthusiasts 

playing pickleball or badminton, 

walking the mall, or learning martial 

arts. It has also been used by a number 

of nonprofit organizations like Play 

your Art Out and St. Louis Teachers’ 

Recycle Center. 

While some tenants already have 

a destination to go to after the mall 

closes, others will have a more difficult 

time. The Chesterfield Heritage 

Museum has been operating out 

of a 5,000-square-foot space at the mall. 

Across from the museum, Chesterfield 

Community Center occupies 20,000 

square feet. Neither has found a permanent 

location yet. 

While the mall was never intended to be 

a long-term lease, it did provide a home 

for a lot of displaced groups. 

“It touched a lot of people, helped a lot 

of people,” Lowe said. 

Still, he believes the tearing down the 

mall will be a good thing so Downtown 

Chesterfield can become a reality. 

In honor of the mall’s half-century, the 

Heritage Museum of Chesterfield invites 

area residents to share photos and Mall 

memories for a special exhibition. 

Do you have shopping bags or boxes from 

Mall stores? Do you remember the location 

of your favorite stores or restaurants? 

“Fifty years ago, Chesterfield Mall was 

undergoing construction at U.S. 40 and 

Clarkson Road. This year, Mall buildings 

are slated to be torn down and cleared away 

in preparation for the new ‘Downtown 

Chesterfield’ development. Now is the time 

to remember all the unique Mall events 

and stores where we shopped and met with 

friends,” exhibition organizers say. 

Mall memorabilia and written memories 

can be dropped off at the Heritage Museum 

of Chesterfield in the Mall from noon until 

3 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, or they 

can be emailed to chesterfieldmuseum1@ 

gmail.com. 

The museum’s days in Chesterfield Mall 

are also limited. In July, all of its collection 

will have to be packed up and moved before 

the mall demolition begins. Currently, the 

museum is still looking for a new home. 

To learn more, or help in its relocation, call 

(636) 735-1309. 

Creve Coeur looks toward using design-build process in Venable Park 

By JEFFRY GREENBERG 

Known originally as Beirne Park in honor 

of former mayor John T. Beirne, Creve 

Coeur’s first city park was renamed Dr. H. 

Phillip Venable Memorial Park less than 

three years ago. Since that time, the city has 

been trying to construct a worthy memorial 

to Venable. 

At the City Council meeting on Monday, 

Jan. 22, Jason Valvero, the city’s director of 

recreation, said the initial idea of a Venable 

statue has been changed to a memorial artwork 

project at a cost of roughly $300,000. 

Some of that money, currently about $39,500, 

has been received in the form of private 

donations, including $5,000 each from the 

office of the Dean of Washington University 

School of Medicine and the Barnes-Jewish 

Hospital Medical Staff Association. 

The artwork is part of an overall master 

plan construction project. The goal is to start 

the project shortly after Labor Day 2024 and 

be open no later than Memorial Day 2025. 

In reference to another Venable Park project, 

City Engineer Steve Berecz explained 

the concept of design-build construction, 

which is exactly what it sounds like: one 

source for both the design and construction 

of a single project. 

“It’s not new,” Berecz said. “Some of the 

things they encourage are collaboration, 

innovation and teamwork at the beginning. 

As the project rolls, there’s kind of more 

synergy, transparency, creative flexibility 

and usually cost savings. That said, in my 

view they’re only for very specific projects.” 

However, Berecz noted that because 

design-build is a new purchasing method for 

the city, it’s use would require an ordinance 

to modify the city’s purchasing policy. 

“This is just one tool in the toolbox if the 

city decides to move forward with this.” 

In this case, that tool would be used 

in rebuilding the park’s declining tennis 

courts. Berecz said that with Design-Build, 

the courts would be done much sooner and 

at a cost savings of 10-15% or $35,000 to 

$60,000 from the more traditional general 

contractor/subcontractor method. Currently, 

the city has a design contract with St. Louisbased 

engineering firm TWM Inc. for Venable 

Park improvements. 

“I just have a couple things to add,” City 

Administrator Mike Perkins said, following 

Berecz’s presentation. “One, is the Design 

Build process is something we have talked 

about from time to time. 

“This would be amending our purchasing 

policy to allow its use. We haven’t brought 

it previously because we haven’t identified 

a specific project that we really felt it made 

Venable Park has moved up the priorities list for improvements and repairs. 

(Source: Google Maps) 

sense to work. Now, Steve has identified 

this project for which it would make sense, 

and as Steve indicated, we’re not suggesting 

that we’ll be doing a lot of Design Build. It 

might be just one project every few years. 

But we can make that decision as a city on a 

case-by-case basis. 

“For the reasons Steve indicated, this is 

a good project to pursue that because it’s 

a niche kind of an area. There are a very 

small number of companies that do this 

design and construction work related to 

tennis courts, and we now have courts that 

are essentially closed because of their poor 

condition. They’ve been deteriorating for a 

number of years.” 

Perkins explained that when the city 

finished its parks master plan, Millennium 

Park was viewed to be the top priority. That 

put Venable Park behind that effort. 

“Now, we’re getting to Venable Park,” 

Perkins said, “and those courts are essentially 

not going to be able to be used. If we 

wait, they’re going to be closed for a yearand-a-half, 

which is not a great situation to 

have in the park.” 

The Design-Build idea received a favorable 

response from the council. Therefore, 

Perkins will draft an ordinance for a vote by 

the council at a future meeting.

WHY DANA 

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People of all ages and fitness levels feel welcome at 20 Minutes 

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or visit 20MinutesToFitness.com. 

Your initial consultation and first session are free. 

Why not give it a try? 

Just 20 minutes. Just once a week.

18 I NEWS I 



@WESTNEWSMAG 


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FOOD TAX, from page 10 

The cost 

Manchester, Ballwin and Des Peres have 

all passed resolutions calling for the opposition 

of the legislation repealing state and 

local sales and use taxes on food. Manchester 

has joined forces with the cities of Crestwood 

and Brentwood to fund a lobbyist to work 

against the passage of these bills. At the Jan. 

16 Manchester Board of Aldermen meeting, 

Mayor Mike Clement asked for approval to 

spend up to $5,000 for that purpose. 

According to Clement, other cities are 

also grouping together to support lobbyists 

for the same purpose. 

“Municipalities,” he said, “are really 

focused on this effort. We all recognize the 

damage it would do to us. As a matter of 

fact, St. Louis County has a huge interest in 

these bills defeated or not brought forward 

being the county would lose about $140 

million dollars.” 

At the Jan. 22 Creve Coeur Board of 

Aldermen meeting, Mayor Robert Hoffman 

noted that city will also be hiring a 

lobbyist. 

“Sales tax is by far our greatest source 

of revenue at about $1 million to $1.2 

million a year,” Hoffman said. “That’s 

a huge, irreplaceable budget loss for us, 

and if this passes, so many small municipalities 

and small towns would fold. 

Nearly every municipality adamantly 

opposes such a law and our City Administrator 

Mike Perkins will be hiring a lobbyist 

to fight this.” 

Clement said the city of Manchester is 

poised to lose around $5 million in revenue 

if taxes on food are repealed. The 

city would need to conduct an acrossthe-board 

review and eliminate staff and 

service in addition to increasing real and 

personal property taxes, he said. 

“Every service we provide in every 

department that we fund, that would include 

police departments, salaries, public works 

equipment, snowplows, we use, sales tax 

revenues,” Clement said. “We would be 

looking at cutting staff and we would be very 

careful where we would go. We (would) be 

looking at raising personal property and real 

property taxes, our tax rates are very low. 

We have maintained that for a long time.” 

According to Clement, the city receives 

only 4% of the total revenue collected 

from its residents’ property taxes. The rest 

goes to the Parkway School District, West 

County Fire and EMS, and the St. Louis 

County Library District. He said sales tax 

makes up the bulk of the city’s revenue. 

“The food items, specifically from 

Walmart, Cosco, Dierbergs and two wonderful 

international markets make up 

about one-third of our revenues that allow 

us to provide the policing that we have, 

the (police) cars, and the staffing and 

administrative people that we have – and 

the parks program. All of that is driven 

by sales tax and food is a primary part of 

that.” 

Manchester does not have a use tax in 

place. 

Pat Kelly is the executive director of the 

Municipal League of Metro St. Louis. He 

said that organization has been proactively 

working on this issue for nearly three years, 

including holding roundtable meetings 

with the mayors and elected officials. 

“We held three of those this summer to 

try to educate them on the impact of this 

legislation specifically, as well as other legislation,” 

Kelly said, noting that educating 

voters is equally important. 

“If you would say to most people, would 

you like us to eliminate sales tax on food? I 

think a supermajority of people would say 

yes,” Kelly said, “but you have to preface 

that with the other side of that equation: So 

are you willing to give up your municipal 

services in order to do that? I think in most 

cases, people are gonna say no. 

“I think it’s just poor legislation. The idea 

that you can just keep cutting taxes without 

having ramifications is just ludicrous. The 

legislature (says) ‘Oh, we’re cutting taxes, 

this is a good thing.’ But they’re not giving 

voters the other side of the equation.” 

The probability 

“This is the third year for this legislation,” 

Kelly said. “You know, with a lot of legislation, 

it doesn’t pass the first year. So the 

concern is that this keeps coming back and 

there could be a chance that it could pass.” 

Kelly said the reason that the Municipal 

League and the municipalities are watching 

all of the food tax bills is “because, as 

the session goes on, if you’re only paying 

attention to one of them, another one could 

be added to a different bill.” 

“That’s how things get done at the Capitol, 

unfortunately. By the end of the session, 

you could get a big omnibus bill that is a 

compilation of many bills, so we have to 

watch all of them to make sure they don’t 

get added to something else. The positive 

thing,” Kelly said at the time of the interview, 

“is that none of those bills have been 

assigned to committee yet. The bills have 

to be assigned to a committee in either the 

House or the Senate, and then they would 

have a public hearing where we would be 

able to testify, but as of today, none of those 

bills have been assigned.” 

(Editor’s note: At press time, some of the 

aforementioned bills were assigned to committees.) 

Last year, Coleman’s legislation was 

added to another bill; then stripped out of it 

when municipalities voiced their concerns. 

Clement is hoping that local leaders will 

be heard again this year. 

“Every single municipality, county and 

city in the state of Missouri would be very 

negatively impacted by this,” he said.



New book explores city’s Black culture, rich history 



I NEWS I 19 


“Black St. Louis,” a new book by St. 

Louisans Calvin Riley and Nini Harris, 

shares the history of Black St. Louisans 

from the city’s founding as a French furtrading 

post during the Spanish colonial 

era in 1764 to the new millennium. 

The book is filled with pictures and stories 

of influential residents. 

Learn about people like Charlton Tandy, 

a Union Army veteran who fought for 

civil rights, and John Berry Meachum, 

an ex-slave who led the Black community 

with kindness and founded the First 

African Baptist Church. Discover how 

businesswoman Annie Malone built an 

industry that served and enriched Black 

residents in the early 20th century and left 

a lasting impact on the city. 

Many of the pictures are from Riley’s 

collection at the George B. Vashon 

Museum in St. Louis. Riley founded the 

museum in 2015 and remains its director. 

He is also a well-known antiques dealer 

and collector of Black memorabilia. He 

said Harris approached him with the idea 

to write a book after visiting the museum 

several times. “Black St. Louis” is Harris’s 

18th book on St. Louis history and 

architecture. 

“Nini would come to my museum and 

visit quite often and felt we needed to do a 

book because no one has done this,” Riley 

said. “There’s a lot of research out there 

on Black history in St. Louis that has not 

been told. Most people that do things in 

our city, when they die, they’re forgotten. 

We know about Martin Luther King 

Jr. and Malcolm X. There’s a lot of other 

people who did a lot and we need to talk 

about them.” 

A former educator, Riley is passionate 

about sharing the accomplishments of 

Black St. Louisans. 

“History needs to be told,” he said. 

“There’s enough documentation and artifacts 

to tell the truth on what you find. All 

cultures are rich (and) have people who 

have contributed to our community and 

kids need to hear that so they can be proud 

of their culture. All cultures have negative 

and positive parts of their history.” 

Riley shared the story of Jordan Chambers, 

who was a prominent businessman 

and leader in the 1940s and ‘50s. While 

he never held a political office, he was 

a powerful figure and referred to as “the 

Negro mayor of St. Louis,” Riley said. 

“It’s because of him that Black police 

officers were allowed to wear uniforms. 

He also worked to get Black 

people better jobs in the community,” 

Riley said. 

Harris said the pictures in the book 

show what everyday life was like for 

Black people in St. Louis. 

“When you see all of (the pictures) 

together you see the family life, sense 

of community, values and day-today 

life that we have not had many 

images of, or those images have not 

been shared with the greater community,” 

Harris said. “We were able to 

use a couple photos of mature Black 

men. Others show young women of 

African heritage elegantly attired in 

Victorian dress; one woman is holding 

a book. That is interesting considering 

it was illegal at the time to teach 

African Americans to read and write, 

yet here was this elegant African 

woman holding a book. We get to see 250 

years of what has transpired here.” 

Harris pointed out that St. Louis developed 

like a patchwork with different 

neighborhoods of immigrants including 

Sicilian, Irish, Polish and Black. She said 

it’s important to learn about them all. 

“So often we look at communities or 

(Source: Reedy Press) 

neighborhoods in silos. We need to look at 

what is special about each, and then look 

at the bigger picture and see how things 

relate to one another.” 

“I live in Dutchtown and went to Woodward 

Elementary school,” Harris said. “St. 

Louis history was part of our curriculum. I 

still have my textbook, and I love it!” 

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20 I SCHOOLS I 



@WESTNEWSMAG 


BULLETIN 

BOARD 

Parkway student wins 

Spark! Tank competition 

Suraiya Saroar, a Parkway West High 

senior, is building a business that will 

allow immigrants to access translation 

services from anywhere in the world. 

Saroar’s company Bamu won the $500 

prize at the annual Spark! Tank pitch 

competition sponsored by the Parkway 

Alumni Association and Maryville University. 

Bamu will use the funds to create 

a professional website for the company 

and begin networking with similar organizations. 

Parkway’s Spark! Business Incubator 

program provides students with real 

entrepreneurial opportunities. Supported 

by industry and community leaders, the 

program helps students discover their passions, 

develop essential skills and build 

confidence. 

Master wordsmiths 

A team representing Parkway’s Mason 

Ridge Elementary achieved highest 

honors in the recent WordMasters Challenge, 

a national vocabulary competition 

involving nearly 125,000 students 

annually. The fifth-grade team scored an 

impressive 197 points out of a possible 

200 in the first of three meets this year, 

placing first in the nation. 

Competing in the difficult gold division 

of the WordMasters Challenge, 

fourth-graders Daniel Bastos, Beckham 

Johnson and Brooke Ringhofer, and fifthgraders 

Sarah Adams, Izzy Blatnik, Tejas 

Guda, Joey Jordan, Matteo Maccotta, 

Harper Springman and Sylvi Walton each 

earned a perfect score of 20 on the challenge. 

Other students from Mason Ridge 

who achieved outstanding results in the 

meet include third-graders Elina Calabio, 

Ben Rutherford and Audrey Zhao; fourth 

graders Harper DeWitt and Ewan Kim; 

and fifth graders Angela Gong, Kenise 

Raines and Marie Zhu. The students were 

coached in preparation for the WordMasters 

Challenge by MOSAICS teacher 

Abby Webb. 

The WordMasters Challenge is an exercise 

in critical thinking that encourages 

students to become familiar with a set of 

interesting new words, and then challenges 

them to use those words to complete analogies 

expressing various kinds of logical 

relationships. 

Parkway’s Mason Ridge Elementary fifth-grade students who participated 

in the WordMasters Challenge received highest honors in the competitions. 

Back row (from left) Sylvi Walton, Sarah Adams, Harper Springman, Madison 

Cohen, Marie Zhu, Kenise Raines and Oliver Reeves. Front row (from left) 

Matteo Maccotta, Tejas Guda, Angela Gong, Izzy Blatnik, Ellie DeWitt, J.P. 

Wischnowsky and Joey Jordan. 

(Source: PSD) 

New Parkway playground 

complete 

Parkway’s Barretts Elementary playground 

is now complete. The school’s 

playground has been closed since last 

summer because of the construction of the 

new playground. The new playground was 

funded by a $265 million bond approved 

by voters in November 2022. Parkway will 

replace the elementary/preschool playgrounds 

at all schools in the next several 

years to improve accessibility and safety. 

Principia students 

visit Yellowstone 

Principia’s Field and Natural History 

Class of 16 students recently visited Yellowstone 

National Park to learn about 

winter ecology in the unique Yellowstone 

ecosystem. Their activities included testing 

the temperature and pH at Norris Geyser 

Basin and comparing that to Mammoth 

Hot Springs, practicing animal tracking, 

learning about snow science and wildlife 

watching. 

Over the course of the trip, the students 

came up with questions to research and collected 

data in the field. Some of these questions 

included finding out comparisons of 

animal presence and behavior in different 

communities, snow layers and their differences 

across communities and exploring 

thermophiles at Mammoth Hot Springs. 

Rockwood students 

celebrate 100th day 

Rockwood elementary students and staff 

members celebrated the 100th day of the 

school year with 100-themed clothing, art 

projects and learning activities in reading, 

writing, math and more. 

Rockwood claims three 

Schools of Character 

Rockwood’s Blevins Elementary, Eureka 

Elementary and Lafayette High have been 

named 2024 state-level Schools of Character 

by Character.org. The three schools are 

among 87 nationally to earn State School 

of Character distinction this year. This is 

the third time Blevins has earned State 

School of Character distinction, the second 

time for Lafayette and the first time for 

Eureka. 

“I am honored that Lafayette High 

School has been recognized as a State 

School of Character. This is a testament 

to everyone’s hard work,” said Principal 

Dr. Karen Calcaterra. “This designation 

belongs to the outstanding Lafayette community 

comprising our students, staff and 

families. We believe that continuing to 

provide and foster an environment where 

being caring, committed and connected is 

essential to our work and creating a strong 

school community.” 

CharacterPlus is the Missouri affiliate for 

the State Schools of Character process and 

evaluates all Missouri schools and districts 

who apply. Character.org certifies schools 

and districts each year at the state level 

that have developed and implemented an 

intentional, proactive and comprehensive 

approach that embeds character into all 

aspects of the school life. 

These schools and districts are now under 

consideration for Character.org’s highest 

distinction of National School of Character. 

In all, 24 Rockwood schools and programs 

have been named State Schools of Character, 

and 21 have been named National 

Schools of Character. Kehrs Mill and Wild 

Horse elementary schools and LaSalle 

Springs Middle were named National 

Schools of Character last year. 

U.S. Presidential 

Scholar Candidates 

A total of 12 Rockwood School District 

students have been named candidates for 

the 2024 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. 

Each year, around 4,000 students 

nationally are named candidates for this 

program from the pool of more than 3 million 

high school seniors. In the spring, up to 

161 students from this group will be named 

as Presidential Scholars, one of the nation’s 

highest honors for high school students. 

This year, Rockwood contributed 12 of 

the 103 candidates from the state of Missouri, 

with Marquette High contributing 

the most students of any school in the state. 

Students have the opportunity to become 

Presidential Scholars based on three paths 

of accomplishment. The majority of the 

scholars are selected on the basis of broad 

academic achievement, while other students 

are selected on the basis of their academic 

and artistic scholarship in the visual arts, the 

performing arts or creative writing and on 

the basis of their outstanding scholarship and 

accomplishment in career and technical education 

fields. Selection for candidates in the 

academic achievement path is, for the most 

part, made based on SAT and ACT scores. 

The following students were named 

Rockwood’s candidates for the program: 

• Anatoli Beyene, Marquette High 

• Sophie Chang, Marquette 

• Yoon Jae Chang, Marquette 

• Alex Chen, Marquette 

• Anja Hartmann, Eureka High 

• Alex Li, Marquette 

• Alice Liu, Marquette 

• Jatin Sridhar, Marquette (also recognized 

as Presidential Scholar in Career and 

Technical Education candidate) 

• Tina Wang, Marquette 

• Ryan Watkins, Eureka 

• Andrew Wu, Marquette 

• Jason Zhao, Marquette 

New scholarship 

opportunity offered 

The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis 

has launched the Ameren All In Scholarship 

Fund, a $1,180,000, five-year commitment 

to provide 25 students annually 

with scholarship grants up to $10,000 per 

student per year for up to 10 semesters, or 

five years. Applications for this opportunity 

are now open. 

The Ameren All In Scholarship is 

designed to award critical “last dollar” 

funding to fill the gap between total cost 

of education and the financial resources 

available to students from family, school, 

state and federal sources. The scholarship 

fosters educational attainment and finan- 

See BULLETIN BOARD, page 55



Balvihar of Saint Louis 

celebrates India’s Republic Day 



I SCHOOLS I 21 

By SHWETHA SUNDARRAJAN 

It was all hustle and bustle at the Hindu 

Temple Community Center on Jan. 28 as 

students, parents and Balvihar faculty 

gathered to celebrate India’s Republic Day. 

India celebrated the adoption of the country’s 

constitution on Jan. 26. Balvihar is a 

educational organization aimed at promoting 

and fostering Indian culture in youth. 

“This is an opportunity to celebrate 

(India), by making our children understand 

various parts of the country and even 

though we look different, even within our 

own country and speak so many different 

languages,” Tejaswini 

Nayak, Balvihar 

teacher said. “At 

the end of the day, 

we celebrate everything 

in a similar 

fashion, maybe with 

small nuances here 

[and there]. But at 

the end of the day, 

we’re all working 

towards the country 

as Indians and 

[we’re all] Indian at 

heart.” 

Every year, the 

theme of the Republic 

Day celebration 

changes, according 

to Balvihar administrator 

Shanthi Krishnan. In previous years, 

each class was assigned an Indian state to 

create a presentation on. However, Krishnan 

and other faculty decided to switch up 

this year’s theme, focusing on the various 

festivals in India’s different regions and 

creating a competition between classes. 

Dressed in traditional garb, Balvihar students 

presented their displays to six judges. 

Some classes choreographed dances, some 

acted out skits, but all were hoping to make 

a lasting impression on the judges. 

“The experience is fun because you get 

to, like, make poster boards, you get to do 

dances, you get to listen to people playing 

the national anthem in an orchestra, so it’s 

just a really fun experience,” Namita Rai, a 

third-grade student said. 

Prominent community leaders, such 

as Carol Commerford and Linda Lee, of 

the Bach Society of Saint Louis, were 

selected as judges. Krishnan explained 

that the judges come from inside and 

outside the Indian community. Both 

Commerford and Lee focused on judging 

presentations from the fifth-, sixth- and 

seventh-grade classes. 

“The fifth-graders, they were so detailed 

and they had such beautiful displays, and 

they were very special. And the sixth-graders 

have a lot of the same types of things 

and they had some demonstrations so that 

they kind of brought it to life for us with 

what they did. The seventh-graders were a 

whole other walk. It was like walking into 

a whole other world,” Commerford said. 

After the judging was complete, it was 

time for the general audience performances. 

Several students kicked off the show with 

an instrumental rendition of the American 

and Indian national anthems. That was followed 

up by a fashion show presented by 

the kindergarten and first-grade classes. 

First-grade students at Balvihar dressed up as mythological 

characters from various Hindu epics. (Shwetha Sundarrajan photo) 

“My favorite part about Balvihar is that 

if you’re in America, you can still learn 

about the Indian cultures like different 

Indian people, the Ramayana, like everything 

about that. It’s also good because 

you can celebrate Indian festivals, even in 

America,” said third-grade student Yathvik 

Shridhar. 

The festivities continued as kindergartners 

dressed up as characters from Jataka 

Tales, a collection of stories depicting the 

previous births of Gautama Buddha in 

both human and animal form. First graders 

dressed up as mythological characters 

from various Hindu epics. 

As the festivities wrapped up, students 

eagerly waited to hear who were the winners 

of the day’s competition. Raucous 

cheers came from the second and seventh 

graders as they were announced as the 

winners. 

“When I came last night, here [Hindu 

Temple Community Center], it was full. 

All the kids were here performing so that 

means that participation level was very 

high because it was different and they 

really enjoyed it,” Balvihar founder Sudhir 

Brahmbhatt said. 

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22 I WOMEN IN BUSINESS I 

WOMEN 

IN 

BUSINESS 

A special section featuring 

West St. Louis County’s best and brightest 

female entrepreneurs and professionals. 



@WESTNEWSMAG 


Women in Business: Why it matters 

By KATE UPTERGROVE 

According to the Current Population Survey 

and Current Employment Statistics from the 

U.S. Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor 

Statistics, three-quarters of women between 

the ages 25 and 54 hold down a job today, 

compared with slightly more than two-thirds 

a decade ago. Women are also working longer 

hours. Today, 84% of those women work full 

time and many are entrepreneurs. 

Why does this matter? 

It matters because research supports that 

having women in the workplace improves 

the organizations for which they work for 

all employees. In a survey conducted by the 

Center for Creative Leadership, respondents 

noted that women in the workplace resulted in: 

• More job satisfaction. 

• More corporate dedication. 

• More meaningful work. 

• Less burnout. 

In simple terms, women get the job done – 

and women entrepreneurs create jobs along 

the way. 

Approximately 40% of women entrepreneurs 

hired one to five employees in their first 

year. Over 10% ultimately hired 20 or more 

employees, far above the global average of 

3%.That’s according to Global Entrepreneurship 

Monitor’s 2021/2022 Women’s Entrepreneurship 

Report. 

Women are often better at communication, 

collaboration and creativity than their 

male counterpoints. Which is to say, they see 

things differently and as such bring a different 

skillset and approach to problem solving. A 

woman’s intuition may allow her to pick up on 

details that enhance collaboration and make 

co-workers feel appreciated and customers 

feel noticed. 

In its Trends in Entrepreneurship series, The 

Kauffman Foundation – based in Kansas City, 

Missouri, no less – notes that 39.9% of businesses 

started in 2021 were created by women. 

Recruiting specialist Guidant Global’s 2022 

Women in Business Trends report takes that 

statistic further by noting that most women 

who own an independent business started 

it from scratch (33%) instead of buying an 

existing company (23%). Of women who 

own franchises, roughly one-third (34%) 

bought their location instead of purchasing an 

existing franchise location (10%). This means 

new revenue and new business growth being 

brought into a community. 

In terms of community, those local businesses 

are typically the ones that support 

school programs, little leagues, Scouts, nonprofits 

and more. 

Lisa Clemente 

Owner 

Lisa Clemente, owner of Allstate - 

Clemente Insurance Agency, began 

working with Allstate more than 30 years 

ago, first in a claims office and in 2002, as 

the owner of her own agency. As a result, 

she has insider knowledge of the claim 

process and a thorough understanding of 

policy coverage. 

“I love helping customers understand their 

coverage options and identifying risks or 

gaps, all while offering choices that fit their 

unique needs and budget.” Lisa said. 

The agency is excited to offer significant 

discounts for new roofs, low miles, safe 

drivers, good students and more. 

“We try to live into our mission every 

day. We want our clients to feel heard 

and protected, and to find the middle 

ground between being under-insured or 

insurance poor,” Lisa said. 

(636) 227-1072 

110A Holloway Road • Ballwin 

Spencer Argueta 

Vice President, Broker, Realtor 

Spencer Argueta, vice president, broker and 

Realtor at Elevate Realty knows that buying or 

selling a home is one of the most important 

transactions her clients will make. That is why she 

sees her role as an advocate to help her clients 

navigate complex transactions and provide 

smooth transitions from beginning to close. 

“I am committed to serving all the needs of my clients with knowledge, skill and care,” 

Spencer said. 

As for knowledge and skill, she is not only experienced but dedicated to continuing her 

education. 

“I want to make sure that I am not only up to date but ahead of the curve in the fast paced 

world of real estate,” she said. 

As for care, Spencer makes herself available to her clients and works hard to reach their 

goals. A wife and mother, she strives hard to do her best to serve families. 

“Clients choose to work with me because of my honesty, patience and the expertise that 

empowers them to make smart real estate decisions,” she said. 

That knowledge, skill and dedication have put her 

among the Top 1% of Realtors in St Louis, ranked her as 

Best of Zillow and featured her in Top Agent Magazine. 

Spencer, along with the Elevate Realty LLC Team, 

serves St. Louis County, Franklin County and Warren 

County. 

Put your trust in a realtor who has the real estate skills 

clients need and cares passionately for families. Call 

Spencer Argueta. 

12400 Olive Street Road #203 

Creve Coeur • (314) 947-3791 

spencer@stlhp.com 

www.explorestlouishomes.com 

Jenn Avery 

Community 

Outreach Director 

Jenn Avery is the Community Outreach 

Director at Quinn Estate & Elder 

Law. She brings with her a decade of 

experience with senior living spaces, 

serving in various roles, most notably 

as an executive director of an assisted 

living and memory care community. 

Her role at Quinn Estate & Elder Law 

is to be a resource for seniors and their 

families serving as the firm’s voice to 

inform and educate them about longterm 

care planning, Veterans’ benefits 

and Medicaid, and recommend local 

resources for seniors when appropriate. 

Jenn also runs Elder Care Advisors, 

a free elder care assistance program 

offered to all members of the community 

by Quinn Estate & Elder Law. 

(636) 394-7242 

javery@quinnestatelaw.com 

www.quinnestatelaw.com





I WOMEN IN BUSINESS I 23 

Kathy Beaven 

Independent 

Broker 

Kathy Beaven of Beaven Insurance 

LLC has been helping clients with 

Medicare insurance planning for more 

than 18 years. She can help seniors 

understand the difference between 

Medicare supplements and a Medicare 

Advantage Plan, the importance of drug 

plans and the details of dental and vision 

insurance. 

“Many people are bombarded with 

information from different carriers about 

the Medicare products they offer, and it 

can be hard to sort through it all,” Kathy 

said. Her goal is to get to know her 

clients and advise them on the Medicare 

Products that will best fit their lifestyle and 

budget. Do you have questions about 

Medicare? Call today for an appointment. 

16024 Manchester Road • Ellisville 

(636) 549-3800 

www.kathybeaven.com 

Brenda Bader Tucker 

Metro Regional Manager, SVP 

At Peoples National Bank, people are more 

than just customers; they’re friends and neighbors. 

That’s why their dedicated associates are so 

involved on a local level. 

Brenda Bader Tucker, Senior Vice President and 

Metro Regional Manager, is a West County native 

with 44 years in the banking industry and has an 

extensive client portfolio. Brenda is actively involved in the local community through 

numerous civic organizations. “Our associates are encouraged to be actively involved in 

our communities to enrich the quality of life for community members in the St. Louis 

market,” Brenda said. 

She especially enjoys working with clients to help improve their financial situations by 

providing banking solutions that are completely tailored to each individual’s unique needs. 

“All banks have the same products and services. What makes us different is our 

associates and level of client service,” Brenda said. 

With assets over $1.7 billion, Peoples National Bank serves 18 communities throughout 

Southern Illinois and Missouri. For more 

information about Peoples National Bank, visit 

peoplesnationalbank.com. 

Stop in at the Town & Country Branch. Meet 

Brenda and her team and put their expertise and 

resources to work for your family, home or 

business. Peoples National Bank and their team 

are here to serve your community. 

14323 S. Outer Forty Road 

Town & Country 

(636) 346-8545 

www.peoplesnationalbank.com 

Chrissy 

Wagner 

REALTOR 

With 18 years of experience selling 

residential real estate, Chrissy Wagner 

of RedKey Realty Leaders understands 

that buying or selling a home is more than 

just a transaction – it’s a life-changing 

experience. “That’s why I am dedicated 

to providing exceptional, personalized 

service for all of my clients. Given the 

competitive real estate market, my goal is 

to make the selling and buying process as 

streamlined and stress-free as possible.” 

Chrissy enjoys assisting her clients in 

reaching their real estate dreams. “I am 

grateful for all of the relationships I have 

had the opportunity to build over the 

years,” she said. “It is a privilege to do 

what I love to do every day!” 

(314) 412-9938 

Chrissy@redkeystlouis.com 

Vennessa Mastroianni 

Owner, Broker 

Vennessa Mastroianni is the owner and broker 

of Realty Masters, St. Louis, a “boutique” real 

estate brokerage firm with a team of 

knowledgeable and honest professionals whose 

top priority is service. Coming from a successful 

career in real estate in her home country of 

Australia, Vennessa moved to St. Louis, her 

husband’s native city, in 2010. She serves as 

Board Director for Missouri Association of Realtors, President of the Council of 

Independent Real Estate Brokers, and the Manchester Business Association. She also 

contributes to the Professional Standards, Ethics, Risk Management and Leadership 

Development committees both locally and at the state level. Vennessa ensures her office 

is dedicated to professionalism at every level. 

“We view real estate as more than just a transaction,” Vennessa said. “Real estate 

sales happen when something big has happened in someone’s life – new jobs, 

marriages, children. We help people through that transition.” 

Helping clients through those life 

changes is central to Realty Masters’ 

ethos. Vennessa and her group of 

dedicated, caring and knowledgeable 

professionals know how to get clients 

where they need to be; they represent 

clients with honesty, integrity and a firm 

commitment to their objective. Realty 

Masters’ motto is “Success Sells” because 

that is what they do! 

14396 Manchester Road 

(636) 220-7830 

www.RealtyMastersStl.com 

vennessa@realtymastersstl.com

Coldwell Banker Realty – Gundaker Town & Country office salutes 

Outstanding Women in 

St. Louis’ #1 Real Estate Company 

636-394-9300 

Farida Ahsan 

636-675-6284 

farida.ahsan@cbgundaker.com 

Karie Lyn Angell 

314-518-6781 

karielyn.angell@cbgundaker.com 

Phyllis Barr & Kris Barr 

314-973-2843/314-750-8054 

thebarrtradition@cbgundaker.com 

Mary Bay 

314-973-4278 

mary.bay@cbgundaker.com 

Cindy Behnen 

314-303-0634 

cindy.behnen@cbrealty.com 

Mary Beth Benes 

314-707-7761 

mbbenes@cbgundaker.com 

Donna Carrillo 

314-614-6883 

donna.carrillo@cbrealty.com 

Helen Chou 

314-469-6307 

helen.chou@cbgundaker.com 

Emmy Crawford 

314-732-5867 

emmy.crawford@cbrealty.com 

The Cutting Edge - Vicki & Laura 

636-448-7824 

vcutting2001@yahoo.com 

Tammy Degenhardt 

314-920-8786 / 618-920-9701 

tammy.degenhardt@cbrealty.com 

Sabina Dehn 

314-941-4000 

sabina.dehn@cbgundaker.com 

Maggie DeLunas 

314-440-3856 

maggie@delunashomes.com 

Debbie Dutton 

314-398-4909 

debdutton@gmail.com 

Georgia Ferretti 

636-675-0329 

georgia.ferretti@cbgundaker.com 

Teri Flemming 

636-346-6489 

teri.flemming@cbrealty.com 

Dot Fleshman 

314-324-3317 

dot.fleshman@cbrealty.com 

Stephanie Fultz 

314-973-4424 

stephanie.fultz@cbgundaker.com 

Mary Gettinger 314-378-3173 

Kathy Gettinger 636-284-0990 

kathy.gettinger@cbgundaker.com 

Amy Gundaker-Meyers 

314-713-2694 

marrzfive@gmail.com 

Mary Gunther 

314-374-1192 

mary.gunther@cbgundaker.com 

Kelley Hainline 

636-219-6467 

kelley.hainline@cbrealty.com 

LaVicki Hart 

314-614-9293 

lavicki.hart@cbgundaker.com

Coldwell Banker Realty – Gundaker Town & Country office salutes 

Outstanding Women in 

St. Louis’ #1 Real Estate Company 

636-394-9300 

Michelle Hoberman 

314-810-6600 

michelle.hoberman@cbgundaker.com 

Linda Hyink 

314- 853-6731 

linda.hyink@cbgundaker.com 

Courtney Kallial 

314-599-3797 

courtney.kallial@cbgundaker.com 

Sharla Keeney 

314-541-6176 

sharla.keeney@cbgundaker.com 

Margie Kerckhoff 314-616-7644 

Sandi Keating 314-374-3036 

mkerckhoff@cbgundaker.com 

Lauri Kincaid 

816-582-7986 

lauri.kincaid@cbgundaker.com 

Etty Masoumy 

314-406-3331 

etty@cbgundaker.com 

Katie Messey 

314-343-9276 

katie.messey@cbgundaker.com 

Debbie Midgley 

314-610-7519 

debbie.midgley@cbgundaker.com 

Nancy Miles 

314-440-3856 

maggie@delunashomes.com 

Rebecca Mumme 

314-303-2593 

rebecca.mumme@cbgundaker.com 

Stephanie Nelson 

314-650-6407 

stephanie.nelson@cbrealty.com 

Maureen Noghreh 

314 239-7790 

maureen.noghreh@cbgundaker.com 

Shelly Owens 

314-280-6500 

shelly.owens@cbgundaker.com 

Jenny Pappas 

314-941-5006 

jenny.pappas@cbgundaker.com 

Alicia Robinson 

314- 265-9643 

alicia.robinson@cbgundaker.com 

Heather Schulte 

636-236-1097 

heather.schulte@cbrealty.com 

Darby Seymour 

314-412-6687 

darby.seymour@cbgundaker.com 

Tali Stadler 

314-680-4799 

tali.stadler@cbgundaker.com 

Gail White 

314-550-5637 

gail.white@cbrealty.com 

Jan Woods 

314-623-0929 

jan.woods@cbgundaker.com 

Kathleen Woodworth 

314-308-0534 

kwoodworth@cbgundaker.com 

Maggie Wright 

314-324-5985 

maggie.wright@cbgundaker.com

Celebrating 

WOMEN 

www.westcountychamber.com 

Lori A. Kelling, President/CEO 

West St. Louis County Chamber 

15965 Manchester Rd. • Ellisville 

636-230-9900 

lkelling@westcountychamber.com 

Heather Zerweck, VP of Operations 

West St. Louis County Chamber 

15965 Manchester Rd. • Ellisville 

636-230-9900 

westcountychamber.com 

Jean Albaugh, RN 

Director of Nursing 

Bethesda Meadow 

322 Old State Rd. • 636-449-1664 

BethesdaHealth.org 

Beth Becherer, DC 

Turning Point Chiropractic 

14784 Manchester Rd • Ballwin 

636-230-3091 

MLTurningPointChiropractic.com 

Deb Breneman, Travel Advisor 

Debstinations Travel 

Affiliate of Classic Travel Connection 

201-914-4077 • 314-626-3327 

debstinations.com 

Kathleen Brenner, President 

Bookkeeping for You 

314-605-1800 

kathy@bookkeepingforyoullc.com 

bookkeepingforyoullc.com 

Diane Carson, 

President/Owner 

Promo Xpertz LLC 

diane@promoxpertz.com 

promoxpertz.com 

Patty Clisham, Owner 

Ductz Of West St. Louis 

12162 Lackland Road • St. Louis 

314-631-6700 

ductz.com/west-saint-louis/ 

Sue DeBellis, Realtor® 

Senior Real Estate Specialist 

Berkshire Hathaway Home Services 

Alliance Real Estate 

314-406-4283 • 636-530-4051 

Melissa Eaton, i3 Broadband 

Community Engagement Specialist 

230 Turner Blvd. • St. Peters 

636-208-2707 

melissa.eaton@i3broadband.net 

Dina Farrar, Owner 

Spotless Cleaning Services 

636-777-9319 

Facebook: @Spotless.Dina 

Jayne Foley, 

Public Relations Chair 

Assistance League of St. Louis 

636-227-6200 

alstl.org 

Jennifer Fowler, DVM, Owner 

Kehrs Mill Veterinary Care 

15479 Clayton Road • Ballwin 

636-204-5229 

kehrsmillvetcare.com 

Lisa Friebel, LPL Financial Advisor 

Cornerstone Wealth Services 

13358 Manchester Rd • Des Peres 

314-394-1670 Ext. 2138 

CornerstoneWealthServices.com 

Jill Gray, Owner 

Higher Focus Photography 

2451 Pond Road • Wildwood 

636-273-6600 

higherfocus.net 

Ashley Grier, Owner / President 

Realty ONE Group Dominion 

314-662-0947 

thegrierteam.com 

Krista Grossman, Owner 

West County Roofing 

& Construction 

636-484-8000 

westcountyroof.com 

Julie Haefner, Realtor 

Haefner Homes Team 

Keller Williams Chesterfield 

314-409-7969 • 636-534-8268 

juliehaefner@kw.com 

Kim Heligman, Realtor® 

Senior Real Estate Specialist 

Berkshire Hathaway Home 

Services Alliance Real Estate 

314-610-3046 • 636-530-4031 

Carol A. Hofer, CTP 

VP Treasury Management 

Royal Banks of Missouri 

9990 Manchester Road • 314-212-1539 

royalbanksofmo.com • NMLS # 604959





I WOMEN IN BUSINESS I 27 

Cathy Shaw-Connely 

Real Estate Agent 

Cathy Shaw-Connely, a continuous Five Star 

Real Estate Agent winner, is one of the third 

generation of family professionals at Tom 

Shaw Realtors, the oldest residential real 

estate company in St. Louis, now celebrating its 

102nd year in business. 

With millions of dollars in sales each year, 

Cathy is one of the top producing agents in the 

St. Louis area. 

Cathy prides herself on superior service, follow-up and being available to her clients. 

She has worked extensively over the years in all areas of the real estate market, 

including St. Louis, Chesterfield, Wildwood and St. Charles, Franklin and Jefferson 

counties. 

Buying or selling real estate is one of the largest 

financial investments that most people will ever make 

or realize. Cathy will ensure positive results and 

provide effective guidance through the entire process, 

being uniquely qualified to represent both buyers and 

sellers. 

From the most discriminating, to the first-time home 

buyer, clients can be assured they will be working with 

a real estate professional who is completely 

committed to helping them achieve their desired 

results. Whether it is a home, acreage, horse property, 

new construction, or a farm to be bought or sold, call 

Cathy and look no further. 

151 Chesterfield Industrial Blvd 

Chesterfield 

C: (636) 346-4960 

squawky1@aol.com 

Office: (636) 532-1922 

Lisa O. Stump 

Attorney 

West County resident Lisa O. Stump, president of 

Lashly & Baer, P.C., focuses her law practice on 

the areas of governmental and public institutions, 

including education. She is proud to represent 

local entities including the Rockwood School 

District and the St. Louis County Library among 

others. 

“The best part of my job is working with clients who are serving their communities and who 

want to do what’s best for their constituents,” Stump said. 

Stump advises her clients on issues including governance, ethics, contracts and 

procurement, governmental immunity, public employment, taxation and bond issues, the 

use of public monies, elections and public record laws. 

“For me the key to being a truly successful attorney is achieving the right balance between 

serving your clients and serving your family and community,” Lisa said. 

An involved member of the West County community, Lisa has served on numerous civic and 

nonprofit boards and commissions, including the Town & Country Clayton Road Task Force 

and as an Elder at Bonhomme Presbyterian 

Church. Currently, Lisa is involved with one 

of the church’s key missions, the El Centro 

Integral orphanage in Honduras. 

She believes being a good attorney requires 

hard work, the ability to accept responsibility 

and the desire to be proactive in getting the 

work done. (314) 621-2939 

www.lashlybaer.com 

Women of West St. Louis County Chamber of Commerce 

Arrah Karigan, Owner 

Higher State Consulting 

Meditation Teacher • Ellisville 

314-307-5251 

higherstateconsulting.com 

Kathy Lovegren, Realtor® 

BHHS Select Properties 

314-753-1354 • 636- 394-2424 

KLovegren@bhhsselectstl.com 

KathyWillLeadUHome.com 

Vennessa Mastroianni 

Owner • Realty Masters, STL 

14396 Manchester Rd. • Manchester 

636-220-7830 

realtymastersstl.com 

Jannette Neely, Owner 

Nothing Bundt Cakes 

159 Lamp and Lantern Village 

Chesterfield • 636-220-6087 

nothingbundtcakes.com 

Courtney Ruder-Callahan, Realtor TM 

Courtney Ruder Team 

powered by Keller Williams 

314-249-1216 

courtneyruder@kw.com 

Heather Swan, Yarn Queen 

Yarncom 

12772 Olive Blvd • Creve Coeur 

636-628-6784 

yarncomstl.com 

Pep Tobin, Office Manager 

Lafayette Center Block Advisors 

467 Lafayette Center • Manchester 

317 Clarkson Rd, Ste 101 • Ellisville 

636-207-0039 • blockadvisors.com 

Heather Wessels, Agency Principal 

Independent Brokers Agency 

580 Old State Road • Ellisville 

314-384-2811 

ibariskmanagement.com 

Wendi Westfall, Dir. of Sales 

The Artisan at Cedarhurst 

16255 Chesterfield Parkway W 

Chesterfield • 217-716-0457 

CedarhurstChesterfield.com 

Shawn Young, Owner 

Code Ninjas Wildwood 

636-795-1398 

shawn.young@codeninjas.com 

codeninjas.com/mo-wildwood

CELEBRATING WOMEN 

IN CHESTERFIELD REGIONAL CHAMBER 

Nora Amato, President/CEO 

Chesterfield Regional Chamber 

101 Chesterfield Business Pkwy. 

(636) 532-3399 

chesterfieldmochamber.com 

Lisa Berger, Office Manager 

Groundwork Mortgage 

(636) 534-2813 

lberger@groundworkmortgage.com 

Denise Brauer, Co-Owner 

SolaTrue Solar 

116 E. Orleans St • Pacific 

Chesterfield • (636) 422-5599 

solatrue.com/mo/st-louis.com 

Holly Breuer CPA|ABV 

President, Prosper CPAs 

16090 Swingley Ridge Rd., Ste. 230 


prospercpas.com 

Halina J. Conti, CRPC®, MBA 

Ameriprise Financial, LLC 

14755 N. Outer Forty, Ste 500 


halina.conti@AMPF.com 

Mary Ems 

VP Commercial Lending 

St. Johns Bank 

(314) 890-3745 

mems@stjohnsbank.com 

Carmen Fronczak, Exec Dir/CRO 

Friendship Village 

15201 Olive Boulevard • Chesterfield 

(636) 733-0168 

friendshipvillagestl.com 

Merrell Hansen 

Councilwoman 

Chesterfield Ward 4 

mhansen@chesterfield.mo.us 

Rebecca L. James, Associate 

Mickes O’Toole 

12412 Powerscourt Dr., Suite 200 

St. Louis • (314) 878-5600 

mickesotoole.com 

Mara J. Lahnar, Partner 

Mickes O’Toole 

12412 Powerscourt Dr., Suite 200 

St. Louis • (314) 878-5600 

mickesotoole.com 

Amy Lemire, President, CSP 

AIM Training and Consulting 

(847)531-3561 

amy@aimwithamy.com 

aimtandc.com 

Faye Licata, DMD, FAGD 

Licata Dental 

111 Hilltown Village Center, 

Suite 200 • Chesterfield 

(636) 532-2101 

Melissa Miles, 

Director of Operations 

Groundwork Mortgage 

(314) 336-0259 

mmiles@groundworkmortgage.com 

Jannette Neely, Owner 

Nothing Bundt Cakes 

159 Lamp and Lantern Village 


nothingbundtcakes.com 

Chris Neskar, REALTOR®, SRS 

Seller’s Representative Specialist 

Keller Williams Chesterfield 

(314) 504-5500 

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Cruise Planners 

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Cynthia Sutton 

Director of Alumni Relations 

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1851 Schoettler Road • Chesterfield 

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Dana Tippit, Luxury Home & 

Senior Specialist • Remax Results 

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Laura Sanders 

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Laura Sanders is consistently ranked 

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When asked why she chose a career 

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With 25+ years of experience, Sue Kelly, 

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the ins and outs of the real estate market. 

She understands value, pricing and 

negotiations, and as a St. Louis native, 

she knows the neighborhoods, especially 

West St. Louis County and the central 

corridor. 

More importantly, she cares about her 

clients. It’s just one more reason Sue has 

earned the distinction of being a top producer. 

“It was our first time buying a home and 

we were so lucky to work with her,” said 

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… Sue responded and answered all our 

questions giving us certain confidence in 

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Sue can help clients sell their present 

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Tonja Busiek 

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Tonja Busiek has brought her decades of 

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I 31 

CITY SC 2024 Schedule 

Don’t miss all the excitement of home games, either in the stands at City Park or in the comfort of 

your home with West Newsmagazine’s online galleries. 

FEBRUARY 

Feb. 20 vs. Houston • 7 p.m.* 

Feb. 24 vs. Salt Lake • 7:30 p.m. 

Feb. 27 at Houston • 9:30 p.m.* 

MARCH 

March 2 vs. NYC • 7:30 p.m. 

March 9 at Austin • 7:30 p.m. 

March 16 at LA Galaxy • 9:30 p.m. 

March 23 vs. D.C. United • 7:30 p.m. 

March 30 vs. Salt Lake • 8:30 p.m. 

APRIL 

April 6 vs. Dallas • 7:30 p.m. 

April 14 vs. Austin • 3:30 p.m. 

April 20 at Kansas City • 7:30 p.m. 

MAY 

May 4 at Houston • 7:30 p.m. 

May 11 vs. Chicago • 7:30 p.m. 

May 15 vs. LAFC • 7:30 p.m. 

May 18 at Cincinnati • 6:30 p.m. 

May 25 vs. Seattle • 7:30 p.m. 

JUNE 

June 1 at Miami • 6:30 p.m. 

June 8 vs. Portland • 7:30 p.m. 

June 15 at Dallas • 7:30 p.m. 

June 19 vs. Colorado • 7:30 p.m. 

June 22 vs. Atlanta • 7:30 p.m. 

June 29 at Vancouver • 9:30 p.m. 

JULY 

July 3 vs. San Jose • 7:30 p.m. 

July 7 at Colorado • 8:30 p.m. 

July 13 vs. Vancouver • 7:30 p.m. 

July 17 at Seattle • 9:30 p.m. 

July 20 at Kansas City • 7:30 p.m. 

AUGUST 

Aug. 24 at Portland • 9:30 p.m. 

SEPTEMBER 

Sept. 1 vs. LA • 1:30 p.m. 

Sept. 7 at New England • 6:30 p.m. 

Sept. 14 vs. Minnesota • 7:30 p.m. 

Sept. 21 at San Jose • 9:30 p.m. 

Sept. 28 vs. Kansas City • 7:30 p.m. 

OCTOBER 

Oct. 2 at LAFC • 9:30 p.m. 

Oct. 5 vs. Houston • 7:30 p.m. 

Oct. 19 at Minnesota • 8 p.m. 

* Concacaf Champions Cup 

(Lyle Whitworth Photography)

32 I SPORTS I 



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7-0160 

01/2024 

The Lafayette Lancers wrestling squad 

SPORTS 

BRIEFS 

By WARREN MAYES 

Lafayette boys wrestling 

The Lancers finished third overall in the 

24-team Winnentonka Invitational behind 

five-time state champ Liberty from nearby 

Kansas City and powerhouse Indianola 

from Iowa. Nine of the top 10 teams in 

Missouri Class 4 competed. 

It was the third-best finish for the Lancers, 

who have won the tournament five 

times and placed second two years ago. 

“We had a solid tournament with seven 

medalists out of our 13 wrestlers that participated,” 

Lafayette coach Joe Wier said. 

“We were without Andrew Wier as he was 

nursing an injury last week. Our group is 

still on the rise. We are a well-mixed team 

with a lot of youth and senior leadership. 

Putting half our team on the medal stand 

was a nice statement that we are here to 

stay and deserve to be in the conversation 

for a state trophy this year.” 

However, Wier pointed out that in the 

later rounds Lafayette struggled against 

some of the top opponents in the state. 

(Source: Durwood Tenny Photography) 

“We have work to do to climb that hill 

to the peak and become the best wrestlers 

we can be,” Wier said. “Our goals are all 

state and national tournament-related, but 

our mission is to become the best wrestlers 

possible and that does not change each day 

or year. 

“We have a great group of kids, but 

honestly we had a few of our weaknesses 

exposed in the meet. This is a good thing 

to learn now as we head down the stretch 

toward the end of the high school season. 

The challenge is always to rise from the 

plateaus in sports and climb to another 

level. Consistency and meaningful change 

in our attack style of wrestling is a must in 

order to reach our goals.” 

Senior Drew Mattison competed in the 

138-pound championship match against 

Rylan Mansfield of Fort Osage. The match 

stopped due to injury at 4:23. 

“Drew was wrestling a top opponent in 

an epic match in which he was losing 1-0 

and on bottom,” Wier said. “He was on 

bottom and kept getting to his feet attempting 

to get the one-point escape in the match. 

His opponent lifted him in the air in what 

we call a mat return and Drew had his arm 

posted outward and he landed on it hard 

and hurt his arm. 

“He could not bend it so the trainer 

called the match as we were unsure if it 

was broken. He is swollen a bit but not 

broken and he will be back in a week or so 

ready for the district event. He is a tough, 

physical kid that can battle so it was a scary 

moment to see him go down like that. He is 

doing much better this week.” 

Junior Aidan Schoen won third place in 

the 144-pound division. He won by fall 

over Indianola’s Elijah Blewitt. 

“He had a great meet pinning a tough 

opponent in the third-place match,” Wier 

said. 

Wier also liked what he saw from heavyweight 

Brandon Wunderlich, who placed 

sixth. 

“He has been a pleasant surprise coming 

back out to wrestle as a senior after taking 

two years off,” Wier said. “When he wrestled 

as a freshman he was 140 pounds and 

now he weighs 220 pounds.” 

Lafayette girls wrestling 

The Lafayette girls wrestling team won 

the Joe Schneider Memorial Tournament in 

Washington. 

Lafayette won with a team total of 187 

points, which was 68.5 points ahead of the 

second-place finisher. 

The 20-team meet featured a strong field, 

Lancers coach Wade Pinkston said. 

“The tournament has traditionally been 

a good event; this year was no different,” 

Pinkston said. “We have been second a 

couple of times and have been in the hunt 

at every tournament we’ve been to this 

season. This time we had some of our 

younger wrestlers step up with excellent 

performances that put us over the top.” 

Securing the first tournament win did not 

cause the Lancers to overreact. 

“Honestly, they weren’t any more excited 

than they’ve been for any other tournament,” 

Pinkston said. “The girls went to do 

a job, to improve in their technique, and to 

practice for what comes later. We’ve been 

in the hunt at every tournament we’ve been 

to and the results of that are starting to 

show.” 

Five Lancers won their weight class. 

Junior Hannah Henderson won at 120, 

senior Toby Goertz won at 125, senior 

Maddie Johnson won at 135, sophomore 

Ella Kimbrough won at 190 and junior 

Aaliyah Grammer won at heavyweight. 

“It’s always a great thing when you 

can put multiple people at the top of the 

podium,” Pinkston said. “I would say the 

most impressive was Ella Kimbrough. She 

is a first-year sophomore who has been 

steadily improving all season and has 

emerged as someone we can count on to 

bring us a win.” 

Overall, Pinkston is happy with the 

Lancers. 

“All the girls have worked hard all season 

and in the off-season and they earned the win 

and we’re happy with the win, but we have 

higher goals and this was another step on our 

journey to those goals,” Pinkston said. 

See SPORTS, page 34 

The Lafayette girls wrestling team at the Joe Schneider Memorial Tournament 

(Source: Durwood Tenny Photography)



Principia’s Patel playing with Team 

USA in U19 Cricket World Cup 

By WARREN MAYES 



I SPORTS I 33 

Principia senior Parth Patel excels at a 

sport that flies under the radar for most 

people. Right now, the Chesterfield native 

is in Bloemfontein, South Africa representing 

his country in the 2024 U19 Cricket 

World Cup. 

“It is very exciting especially because this 

is the first time the USA team has qualified 

since 2010,” Patel said. “We had to beat 

our rivals, Canada, to advance to the World 

Cup. It is amazing having the opportunity 

to play in the stadiums our idols played in 

and having the professional ecosystem.” 

The U19 World Cup takes place every 

two years. Patel was selected to join the 

14-player squad, representing the United 

States to compete at the Regional World 

Cup Qualifier in Toronto in August. 

“It had always been a dream for me to 

play and represent my county,” Patel said. 

“When I got the email of selection, I was 

relieved since there was a good amount of 

pressure.” 

Patel is one of the first male cricketers 

from Missouri. 

“I’m so proud of Parth,” said Chesterfield 

City Council member Gary Budoor. “In a 

time when too many of our headlines and 

social media include negative stories about 

our youth, Parth stands out. He brings a 

noteworthy moment to our community, 

which will be captured in history, forever.” 

Last fall, the city of Chesterfield issued a 

proclamation honoring Patel at the suggestion 

of Budoor. 

“It was an amazing award, and I am 

grateful to be recognized by the city,” 

Patel said. “It meant a lot because I was 

not expecting to be recognized by the city 

for playing cricket. It meant a lot because 

I hope to inspire the next set of players to 

do the same and work hard to reach their 

potential, especially in the game of cricket.” 

Shawn Brown, athletic director at Principia, 

also was impressed with the city’s 

recognition. 

“I cannot even imagine how impressive 

this is for a high school student,” Brown 

said. “It speaks not only to Parth as an athlete 

and cricket player, but it clearly speaks 

to his character as a young man. The character 

traits of dedication, grit, humility and 

poise all come to mind when I think of how 

Parth is a student, an athlete and a friend, 

which are what I believe helped in the decision 

to give him such a prestigious award.” 

Brown said Principia has a handful of 

students that play cricket. 

Partel began playing cricket at age 

8. He was among the first six kids to 

join the American Cricket Academy and 

Parth Patel 

Club (ACAC) when it was established in 

2015. Receiving coaching from the club’s 

founder, Ajay Jhamb, played a crucial role 

in his development as a cricketer. 

“It started just for fun, but when I turned 

14, I realized I could have a chance to represent 

my country,” Patel said. “My uncle 

got me into the game. He came from India 

and brought a set of stumps and a bat. We 

would play in the backyard for hours. It 

sparked my love for the game.” 

Patel is a bowling all-rounder, who 

bowls off-spin. Bowling, in cricket, is 

the action of propelling the ball toward 

the wicket that is defended by a batter. A 

player skilled at bowling is called a bowler. 

A bowler who is also a competent batter is 

known as an all-arounder. 

Patel was selected as captain for the U19 

Midwest Zone for the national championships 

that took place in Los Angeles last 

June. 

“From my performances there, I was 

selected for the squad to go to Canada and 

play in the qualifiers for the World Cup,” he 

said. “(Being chosen) meant a lot because 

it was the culmination of all my and my 

parents’ hard work and sacrifice over the 

last eight years since I started playing.” 

It was the first time the U19 USA Team 

had beaten Canada to qualify for the World 

Cup. 

“It was the best moment I have experienced 

as a player in any sport,” said Patel, 

who also is an excellent baseball player for 

the Panthers. “We weren’t expected to beat 

them, but we had prepared and were ready. 

See PATEL, page 34 

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34 I SPORTS I 

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SPORTS, from page 32 

High school girls 

basketball 

Principia coach Joshua Spuhl 

recently earned his 250th career 

victory as a varsity coach. 

In his 15th year and second 

year at Principia, Spuhl reached 

the milestone when his Panthers 

defeated Villa Duchesne 73-24, 

Before he arrived at Principia, 

Spuhl coached five years at Webster 

Groves and eight years at 

Pacific. 

His girls did not know about the 

milestone win until Shawn Brown, 

the Principia athletic director 

announced it after the game. 

“It has been an amazing journey,” Spuhl 

said. “I have been blessed with awesome 

assistant coaches and players. Marcus 

Black has been one of my assistant coaches 

for 14 of the 15 years. He is a great coach 

and makes us better.” 

The Panthers are playing well this season. 

Principia will soon begin play in the postseason, 

playing in Class 2 District 4. 

“Our team is doing very well,” Spuhl 

said. “The girls are having fun and putting 

in the work needed to compete. This team 

is very capable of many things. We want to 

compete day in and day out. We are hosting 

districts this year, we look forward to 

that.” 

Lafayette wrestling 

hall of fame 

Steve Landry is the 2024 inductee into 

the Lafayette Wrestling Hall of Fame. He 

was inducted by former Lancers coach 

Fred Ross at the Lafayette tournament that 

bears Ross’ name. 

Landry was a state champion in 1986 in 

the 138-pound weight class. 

In being named to the Hall of Fame, he 

joins Ross, the entire 1992 state championship 

team, two-time state champion Scott 

PATEL, from page 33 

We played them twice in the tournament. 

The first time we had lost on the last ball. 

At first, we were sad and disappointed, but 

then we realized we could beat them the 

next time we played. 

“It was unbelievable, to beat the expected 

winners at their home field in front of all 

their fans. The time leading up to the game 

and during the game was filled with so 

much energy and nerves. We, as a team, 

had performed the best, which was why we 

came out on top.” 

Once he gets back from South Africa, it 

Coach Joshua Spuhl and his Principia Panthers 

Redford, state champion and current coach 

Brian Sanguinet and Andy Early, a state 

runner-up. 

“Steve was recognized as the Win Magazine 

National Wrestler of the Year,” Lafayette 

coach Joe Wier said. “He was one of 

the best wrestlers in Lafayette history and 

he went on to wrestle for the Army. Steve’s 

teammates said that he rarely ever was 

scored on in matches or in the wrestling 

room. He was a dominant wrestler who 

loved the daily fight of wrestling. He also 

served his country in the Army.” 

Steve Landry and Fred Ross (Photo provided) 

won’t be long before baseball practice begins. 

“He’s a stud on the mound, plays shortstop 

and second base at a high level, and 

typically bats leadoff for us, pretty much 

always putting the ball into play with 

pace,” Brown said. 

But there is more to Patel than sports. He 

is a gifted student. He also volunteers this 

time in service to others. 

“In my opinion, it is important to have a 

strong education which is why I strive to 

balance my cricket and school,” said Patel, 

whose GPA is 4.0 unweighted. “I love 

giving back to the community. I am grateful 

for my cricket academy because they 

@WESTNEWSMAG 


(Photo provided) 

Landry still lives in the region. 

“He was appreciative to be inducted. He 

had family and friends with him and he 

seemed very honored to have coach Ross 

give him his plaque,” Wier said. “His name 

is now getting engraved on the perpetual 

plaque in our trophy case. It was a touching 

moment to see his old coach get to 

honor his efforts one more time in front of 

our sold-out finals crowd at the Fred Ross 

Tournament.” 

Weir is a big fan of Lafayette having this 

Hall of Fame to celebrate these talented 

athletes. 

“We have a saying, ‘Once a Lancer, 

Always a Lancer’. The people in the Wrestling 

Hall of Fame laid the foundation 

for the success that we experience today,” 

Wier said. “Creating that culture of high 

achievement gives the new generation of 

Lancers the fire to keep that top tier level 

of wrestling.” 

Looking ahead, Wier said he is excited 

about future inductions. 

“In the coming years, it will be fun to 

include more of the boys wrestling side 

but I truly look forward to inducting our 

amazing women’s group that has only been 

around six years with over seven girls who 

went on to wrestle at the collegiate level,” 

Wier said. 

have given me numerous opportunities for 

me to give back to my community and help 

me make an impact.” 

Patel also is involved with Bal-Vihar, the 

Center for Indian Cultural Education. 

“Bal-Vihar has helped me connect to my 

roots and my home back in India,” he said. 

“I have learned a lot about Indian culture 

as well as Hinduism, my faith. Because 

of this, I have been able to strengthen my 

understanding of my faith and learn about 

my culture. I also get the opportunity to 

teach younger students and participate 

in community service projects, which is 

something I enjoy doing.”





I DÉCOR & LIFESTYLES I 35 

FASHION FORWARD 

HIGH QUALITY BATHROOM 

A-1 Concrete Leveling 

(636) 529-0635 • www.a1concrete.com 

stlouis@concrete.com 

A-1 Concrete Leveling specializes in commercial and residential concrete leveling. In fact, A-1 

is an industry leader in both the technology and price. A-1 Concrete Leveling fully restores 

and repairs concrete with guaranteed results. Their expert technicians can tackle driveways, 

sidewalks, porches, patios and even garage floors. They provide a two-year warranty on all 

concrete leveling work and offer free estimates. Call today and restore the beauty and safety of 

the concrete surfaces at your home or business. 

All Surface Flooring 

14932 Manchester Road • Ballwin • (636) 230-6900 

www.allsurfaceflooringstl.com 

All Surface Flooring is a family owned and operated business that has serviced the St. Louis area 

for 50-plus years. They pride themselves on being “your flooring professionals” and are experts 

in all types of floor coverings, including carpet, wood, luxury vinyl and ceramic options. Their 

installers are also full-time employees, meaning that no contractors or outsource firms are utilized. 

They stand by their personal service beginning with selection and through installation. A “Lifetime 

Warranty” is included with installation of any flooring. They also have A+ accreditation with the 

Better Business Bureau and pride themselves on having excellent skills and customer service. 

Brewer’s Flooring 

914 S. Highway Drive • Fenton • (636) 225-8350 

www.brewersflooring.com 

Brewer’s Flooring has been in business since 1982. While they still continue to grow, they take 

great pride in being family owned and operated. The Brewer family is committed to customer 

service and satisfaction on every job. They have a very impressive showroom with everything 

from entry-level products to the finest in the industry, offering carpet, tile, hardwood, laminate, 

vinyl and luxury vinyl tiles. Brewer’s also offers a complete line of Hunter Douglas Window 

Treatments. Stop in their showroom; visit their website; or call. You will be glad you did. 

• Full Range of 

Options and Colors 

• Customized to 

Your Needs 

• Competitive Pricing 

• Installers with 

40+ Years Experience 

• Shower Rebuilds 

or Full Bathroom 

Remodel 

• Low Maintenance 

Showers 

NEW SHOWROOM 

COMING SOON! 

14770 CLAYTON ROAD 

BALLWIN 

(636) 394-0315 

WWW.TILEANDBATHSERVICE.COM 

IMAGINE... 

Classic Kitchen Refacing 

3444 North Lindbergh, Blvd. • St. Ann • (314) 739-1730 

www.classickitchenrefacing.com 

Classic Kitchen Refacing can create your dream kitchen for less. “We do cabinet refacing, custom 

countertops and tile backsplashes,” said owner Don Sheehan. Classic Kitchen Refacing leaves 

your cabinets in place and covers the sides and front and all exposed surfaces with quarter-inch 

solid wood. Then new doors are added in your choice of color and style. They also offer assets 

like new soft-close hinges, handles and hardware. Plus they have the latest quartz countertops. 

“It’ll look and act like a brand new kitchen for less than half the price of tearing everything out,” 

Don said. Financing options are also available. Call to get a free consultation. 

... your home transformed 

Envision heightened function, newfound utility, 

and lasting quality. Mostly, IMAGINE a unique expression 

of who you are and what you want your home to be. 

VISIT OUR LOVELY SHOWROOM. 

14436 MANCHESTER ROAD (1/4 mile west of Hwy. 141) 

SHOWROOM HOURS: MON-FRI 8AM-4:30PM | SAT 9AM-NOON 

636.227.5188 | www.duenkecabinet.com

36 I DÉCOR & LIFESTYLES I 



@WESTNEWSMAG 


Owners Ben Boland & Jim Menner 

H NEST 

JUN K HAULING 

CALL TODAY, WE’LL HAUL YOUR JUNK AWAY! 

Trampolines • Swing Sets • Furniture • Appliances Electronics • Yard Clean Out 

Fences • Decks • Sheds • Pools • Real Estate Cleanup • Garage Clean Out 

Basement Clean Out • Estate Clean Out • Remodeling Demo • Debris Loading & Hauling 

Duenke Cabinet Co. 

14436 Manchester Road • Manchester • (636) 227-5188 

www.duenkecabinet.com 

Locally owned and operated since 1953, Duenke Cabinet Co. has designed, remodeled and 

installed beautiful residential and commercial kitchens, bathrooms and wine cellars. As a dealer 

and manufacturer for several lines of custom and stock wood cabinets, they can coordinate the 

job by offering complete installation with their own personnel, including plumbing, electric, 

lighting, flooring and appliances. They have their own cabinet shop where they manufacture their 

own Covenant Cabinetry. A complete staff of design specialists will assist you with your project 

from start to finish. Give them a call today or visit their showroom. 

BEFORE AFTER 

BEFORE AFTER 

ALL ITEMS, LARGE & SMALL | REMOVAL, LOADING & DISPOSAL 

$ 

30 OFF 

SHEDS, PLAYSETS 

AND FENCES 

EXPIRES 3/2/24 

Cannot be combined with other offers. 

LARGE SCREEN 

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99 

Up to 65” – includes disposal fee 

(Each additional TV – $50) 



DIY 

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RENTAL 

$ 

399 



$ 

25 OFF 

ANY 

PICK-UP 



FREE ESTIMATES BY PHONE/TEXT OR ON-SITE 

314-312-1077 | www.honestjunk.com 

Locally Owned & Operated | Residential or Commercial 

Gills Tree Service 

(636) 274-1378 

Whether a tree is hazardous, interferes with your view or just isn’t aesthetically pleasing, Gills 

Tree Service has the experience and the equipment to remove it safely and securely. They are 

your one call for all your tree removal, trimming, pruning and stump removals. They have been 

locally owned and operated for over 26 years and have an A+ rating with the Better Business 

Bureau. Same day and emergency services are also available. Support a local business and call 

Gills Tree Service today to learn more and receive a free estimate! 

Honest Junk Hauling 

(314) 312-1077 

www.honestjunk.com 

Do you have a dilapidated shed or an old swimming pool? Has a recent storm wreaked havoc 

on your favorite outdoor space? Call Honest Junk Hauling to remove the debris. Honest Junk 

Hauling specializes in hauling away all kinds of unwanted items from around the house, such as 

furniture, appliances and clutter, but they can also take care of those harder to get-rid-of items 

like hot tubs, swing sets, decks and more. Honest Junk Hauling cleans out garages, basements, 

warehouses and rental properties. They are also an excellent choice when you are preparing for 

a move. If you need your house emptied before a home sale, these are the guys to call. Call or 

text them for a quote. 

Silhouette ® Window Shadings 

Enjoy Special Rebates Starting at $300 

on Our Most Popular Styles 

Victor Shade Company 

11477 Page Service Drive 

Maryland Heights 63146 

(314) 428-7979 • www.victorshadecompany.com 

Modern Kitchens and Baths 

14381 Manchester Road • Ballwin • (636) 394-3655 

www.modernkitchensandbaths.com 

Established in 1950, Modern Kitchens and Baths, family-owned-and-operated, serves as the 

premier showroom for kitchen and bath remodeling products in St. Louis. Come and browse 

through their showroom in Manchester to see premium remodeling products in the latest designs 

and with innovative features. They offer an impressive selection of products that includes 

cabinets, granite and quartz countertops, fixtures, appliances, and flooring. Visit their showroom 

today to see all the latest designs and features to fit every budget. There are over 35 displays with 

free planning and design. Let them build and design your dreams! 

*Manufacturer’s mail-in rebate offer valid for qualifying purchases made January 20, 2024 through April 1, 2024 from participating 

dealers in the U.S. only. Rebate will be issued in the form of a Virtual Reward Card and emailed within 6 weeks of rebate claim approval. 

Subject to applicable law, a $3.00 monthly fee will be assessed against card balance 12 months after card issuance and each month 

thereafter. See complete terms distributed with Virtual Reward Card. Additional limitations may apply. Ask participating dealer for 

details and rebate form. © 2024 Hunter Douglas. All rights reserved. All trademarks used herein are the property of Hunter Douglas or 

their respective owners.



WE HAVE MOVED!!! 

We would like to invite our customers 

to visit our new location at 

914 S. HIGHWAY DR. • FENTON, MO 



Gills Tree 

Service 


FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE BREWERS 

SINCE 1982 

Where Quality Flooring is Sold for Less! 

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Whether your tree is hazardous, interferes with your view, or just isn’t aesthetically pleasing, we have 

the experience and the equipment to remove it safely and securely. If you are considering removing a 

tree, speak with our team of St. Louis tree removal experts. 

636.274.1378 • Gillstrees.com 

$500 off an installed cabinetry order of $5,000 or more.* 

*Offer expires on March 6, 2024. Must present ad offer at the time of purchase. Cannot be combined with any other offers. 

Family Owned & Operated 

Serving St. Louis for 73 Years 

Over 35 Displays 

Complete Project Needs from Cabinets & 

Countertops to Tile & Plumbing 

Low Prices on Granite & Quartz Countertops 

Cambria, Silestone, Caeserstone, & more 

10+ different cabinet lines 

We Offer Full Installation or Materials Only 

Financing Available 

FREE ESTIMATES 

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AVAILABLE! 

West Location 

14381 Manchester Rd 

We Build and Design 

Your Dreams! 

Bath Studio 

233 Old Meramec Station Rd 

636.394.3655 

Visit our website to sign up for our Monthly Newsletter! 

www.modernkitchenandbaths.com

38 I DÉCOR & LIFESTYLES I 



@WESTNEWSMAG 


SAVE 50% OFF 

THE COST OF NEW CABINETS 

The Perfect Solution 

for the Outdated Kitchen 

3444 N. Lindbergh • St. Louis, MO 63074 

314-739-1730 

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www.ClassicKitchenRefacing.com 

Tile & Bath Service Inc. 

14770 Clayton Road • Ballwin • (636) 394-0315 

www.tileandbathservice.com 

With over 30 years under their belt as West County’s premier “Bathroom Only” specialists, Tile 

& Bath Service is looking forward to the future! They are excited about their new showroom 

opening this spring, just a few doors down from their original location. They are pleased to 

be able to offer an expanded product line which means more custom options for their clients. 

Customers can create a bathroom or shower with the look they want, the personalized options 

they need, and at a competitive price. All the work is done in a timely manner by installers with 

decades of experience. Call today for a free consultation. 

Victor Shade Company 

11477 Page Service Drive • Maryland Heights 

(314) 428-7979 

www.victorshade.com 

As a family owned and operated company, Victor Shade Company has proudly served the Greater 

St. Louis Area for over 100 years. They provide custom-made shades, shutters and blinds with 

superior customer service! As a Hunter Douglas Gallery Dealer, Victor Shade offers a full range 

of products and options to satisfy even the most discerning taste. Visit Victor Shade’s showroom 

to see, touch, feel and operate full-size products. Victor Shade will also come to you with a free, 

in-home consultation. Let them show you why they are your best choice for window treatments. 

visit our showroom 

and work with 

the best sales 

team in st. louis! 

ALL SURFACE 

FLOORING. LLC 

Happy Valentine’s Day! 

You’ll Love these savings 

the entire store is 

10% off 

14932 Manchester Road, Ballwin, MO 63011 636-230-6900 www.allsurfaceflooringstl.com





Planning Ahead: Home exterior trends for 2024 


A home is often a family’s single largest 

asset, so making investments with upgrades 

and home improvements is almost always 

a good idea. Whether refreshing or renovating 

your home, staying current with 

exterior trends can help make a statement, 

increase your home’s value and enhance 

the comfort of your living space. 

If you’re looking to refresh or improve 

your home’s function and style in the new 

year, consider these 2024 home exterior 

trends from the exterior experts at Westlake 

Royal Building Products. 

Connect with nature 

Connecting people more closely with 

nature and natural elements, biophilic 

design can lead to increased well-being and 

productivity. Growing wellness and environmental 

concerns are driving demand 

for outdoor living space improvements and 

integration of nature in design, including 

elements like green roofs, living walls and 

large windows. 

You can create dramatic outdoor spaces 

by contrasting light and dark colors. For 

example, matte black can be paired with 

materials like brick, stone, shingles and 

wood for an eye-catching twist. Bold, 

earthy tones such as navy blue, forest green, 

dark brown and red can also be combined 

with nature-inspired materials for organic 

texture and warmth. Other trending colors 

for 2024 include vivid teal and aqua blue, 

which can induce a sense of serenity. 

And don’t forget the landscaping. Plants 

– both perennials and annuals – are the 

accessories without which no home is fully 

dressed. 

Install high-performance siding 

As climate change continues to intensify 

and lead to severe weather, there is a growing 

need for high-performance, weatherresistant 

building products. Homeowners 

(Source: Family Features) 

continue to favor resilient materials that 

require less maintenance or replacement 

such as recycled vinyl, engineered wood 

and fiber cement, which maintain beauty 

and function. 

Premium PVC siding, such Celect Cellular 

Composite Siding from Westlake Royal 

Building Products, replicates the beauty 

and aesthetics of wood while remaining 

low maintenance and durable for a lifetime. 

Create functional outdoor living spaces 

Focused on creating seamless connections 

between interior and exterior spaces, 

this evolution in outdoor design includes 

integration of outdoor kitchens and living 

areas. Elements such as fire pits, pizza 

ovens, outdoor entertainment and games 

can be incorporated to personalize the 

space and provide a unique entertaining 

hub. Using cohesive materials and textures 

that can withstand the elements and flow 

from indoors to outdoors, such as stone 

veneer, can help elevate the space and further 

tie it to the home’s interior. 

Use mixed materials and textures 

Blending various textures, finishes and 

materials on a home’s facade can create 

a unique, visually dynamic look. Using a 

combination of materials like brick and 

vinyl siding or stone and wood can add 

depth and visual interest. 

Employ on new take on tradition 

A versatile design approach allows a 

home to transcend trends, ensuring its relevance 

and appeal over an extended period 

of time. In 2024, look for a rise in classic 

design trends featuring elements such as 

vertical siding, crisp white trim, stamped 

and colored concrete and other modern 

takes on traditional styles add personal 

touches to your home’s exterior. 

– Family Features 

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décor 

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A SPECIAL SECTION COMING AGAIN 

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636.591.0010

40 I MATURE FOCUS I 



Safety & Mobility Solutions 

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314-608-5789 • Call for an In-Home Consultation 

SHOWROOM OPEN • M-W-Th-F 9:30AM-5:30PM • TUES 11AM-8PM • SAT 9AM-2PM 

@WESTNEWSMAG 


an ESSENTIAL part of your 

DAILY ROUTINE 

Explore 

Ireland 

WestNewsmagazine.com 

is updated daily 

with the local news, 

events and information that 

impact your world. 

Travel with us: 

October 26 - 

November 4th 

Eating disorders are more prevalent among older women than commonly believed, 

especially after menopause. 


News & Notes 

By LISA RUSSELL 

Eating disorders in 

older adults 

February is Eating Disorders Awareness 

Month, bringing attention to a problem 

that’s become epidemic in the U.S. According 

to the National Eating Disorders Association, 

nearly 30 million Americans will 

have some type of eating disorder, all of 

which are considered forms of mental illness, 

at some point during their lives. And 

while most people may think of eating 

disorders as mainly impacting adolescents 

and teens, they are increasingly prevalent 

among older adults…especially women. 

In 2023, researchers from the Yale 

School of Medicine reported that almost 

3% of women between the ages of 50 and 

64, and about 2% of women over 65, suffer 

from an eating disorder. These illnesses, 

which include anorexia nervosa, binge 

eating and bulimia, can quickly become 

very serious and even fatal in older people. 

In fact, research has shown that just over 

20% of older adults with an eating disorder 

eventually die from the condition. 

Why are older women in particular at 

risk? Studies have shown they commonly 

begin when an emotional “trigger” of some 

kind causes these behaviors. 

A study previously published in the Journal 

of Eating Disorders found that the transition 

to menopause can leave many women 

more vulnerable, as shifting hormones cause 

them to put on weight that’s harder to lose. 

Others may have recovered from eating disorders 

when they were younger, and relapse 

after menopause as their bodies go through 

normal age-related changes. Stress and 

anxiety caused by life events such as adjusting 

to an empty nest, divorce, retirement 

or widowhood can also leave women more 

susceptible to eating disorders. 

Whatever their cause, health experts 

agree it’s critical that eating disorders later 

in life be addressed as quickly as possible. 

If a friend or loved one displays any of the 

following symptoms, she may need help: 

• Rapid weight loss 

See MATURE FOCUS, page 42 

636-946-0633 

www.StCharlesRegionalChamber.com 

Healthcare ‘Groundhog Day’ 

New data on Medicare beneficiaries 

shows that on average, Americans over 

age 65 now spend just under three weeks 

getting healthcare services outside their 

homes each year. 

Specifically, these older adults leave 

home for doctor’s appointments, tests, 

procedures and other medical services 

on an average of 20.7 days annually. 

For a significant 11% of seniors, the 

number of these “health care contact 

days” is 50 per year, more than double 

the national average. 

These numbers represent substantial 

amounts of time, effort and cost for 

older adults covered by Medicare and 

their families, say the Harvard-affiliated 

researchers who published the data in 

Annals of Internal Medicine. They show 

that efforts need to be made to optimize 

contact days – for example, by combining 

doctors’ office visits with lab and 

other testing appointments, which is 

usually not the case today. According 

to the authors, health care contact days 

should become a new patient-centered 

metric that can be used to evaluate care 

for older adults.

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lifestyle of this active adult community. Pickleball. Yoga. An onsite 

wellness provider. You can’t ask for a better selection of social and 

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Thoughtfully crafted one- and two-bedroom 

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Celebrate an active lifestyle with 

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101 Viva Bene Circle, St. Peters, MO 63376 

© 2023 Viva Bene, LLC. Models do not reflect racial preference. Amenities and services vary by location. Pricing and availability subject to change. Please ask your Viva Bene team member for full details.




@WESTNEWSMAG 


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Our individualized holistic approach provides an 

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SERVICES: 

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The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements. 

MATURE FOCUS, from page 40 

• Eating by herself or acting secretive 

• Appearing to feel guilty about eating 

• Exercising excessively 

• Appearing emotionally upset or 

depressed 

• Sudden development of oral health 

problems like jaw pain. 

Parkinson’s pollution link 

You may be more likely to develop Parkinson’s 

disease if you live in a city where 

levels of air pollution are higher, say scientists 

at Barrow Neurological Institute 

in Phoenix. Their recent study, published 

in Neurology, found that people living in 

regions with above-median levels of air 

pollution have a 56% greater risk of developing 

Parkinson’s compared to those living 

in regions with the lowest pollution levels. 

The researchers also found that the relationship 

between air pollution and Parkinson’s 

incidence is not the same in every part 

of the country – instead, it varies in strength 

by region. The St. Louis area is identified 

as a Parkinson’s “hotspot” according to the 

air quality map they developed, along with 

other cities in the Mississippi-Ohio River 

Valley, parts of Kansas, North Dakota, 

Texas and Michigan, and the tip of Florida. 

“This means that the pollution in these 

areas may contain more combustion particles 

from traffic and heavy metals from 

manufacturing, which have been linked to 

cell death in the part of the brain involved 

in Parkinson’s disease,” said study leader 

Brittany Krzyzanowski, Ph.D. 

The team’s conclusions were based on a 

Medicare dataset of nearly 22 million people, 

which identified nearly 90,000 Americans 

with Parkinson’s. They used geospatial 

analysis to confirm the associations between 

numbers of people with the disease and airborne 

fine particulate matter resulting from 

pollution in the regions where they live. 

“Despite years of research trying to identify 

the environmental risk factors of Parkinson’s 

disease, most efforts have focused on exposure 

to pesticides,” Krzyzanowski added. 

“This study suggests that we should also be 

looking at air pollution as a contributor in the 

development of Parkinson’s disease.” 

Forecasting pain 

Changes in the weather and worsening 

of chronic pain are linked for many people. 

For example, shifts in atmospheric pressure 

and humidity have been shown to induce 

migraines in those with the condition, as 

well as worsening of pain caused by arthritis 

or other persistent joint problems. 

In a recent survey conducted by the University 

of Georgia, about 70% of respondents 

with chronic pain said they would 

actually alter their day-to-day plans based 

on weather-based pain “forecasts.” 

“We’re finding more consistent relationships 

between weather patterns and pain, 

so it seems more possible to make weatherbased 

pain forecasts This study was to 

survey and see what the audience was 

for this type of forecast,” said lead author 

Christopher Elcik, Ph.D. 

The survey included more than 4,600 

people, both with and without chronic pain. 

Among migraine sufferers who responded, 

89% identified weather as something that 

impacts their pain level, and 79% saw 

weather as a trigger for pain. Among individuals 

with other conditions, 64% said weather 

patterns could trigger pain and 94% identified 

weather as a factor that impacts pain. 

Their interest in using a pain forecasting 

tool was also high, Elcik said, with 72% of 

those living with migraine and 66% with 

other pain-related conditions saying they 

would alter their behavior in response to 

information it could provide. 

In a recent survey, more than two-thirds 

of older adults with chronic pain said they 

would use a weather-related forecasting 

tool to help predict flare-ups. 


“I see how much people can be affected 

by these types of pain, so if I can provide 

someone with insight into the level of risk 

for a day, maybe people can take steps to 

prevent the pain from happening,” Elcik 

said. “There are preventative measures 

people can take if risks are higher.” 

About half of those with pain conditions 

said they would be “extremely likely” to take 

those measures – which include taking medication, 

resting or avoiding other pain triggers 

– if they were using a forecasting tool. 

One a day 

The simple step of taking a multivitamin 

once a day appears to protect brain function 

in older adults, according to the latest 

of three separate but related studies which 

consistently point to the same conclusion. 

The new study was the most recent in 

a large randomized trial called COSMOS 

(COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin 

Outcomes Study) led by scientists at Mass 

General Brigham, the nation’s largest hos- 

See MATURE FOCUS, page 44



GAMBRILL GARDENS – WHERE 

SENIOR LIVING NEVER GETS OLD 



I MATURE FOCUS I 43 

You! 

WE’RE HERE FOR You! 

Now is the time to make your move into the most active 

Independent Living in the area. Located in Ellisville, MO, 

Gambrill Gardens features 25 acres of breathtaking grounds, 

daily social activities. a fitness center with a complimentary 

personal trainer, on-site restaurants, a 24-hour General Store, 

200 seat chapel, and more! Call our leasing agents for our 

limited-time leasing specials and to schedule your tour! 

Turn to 

West Newsmagazine 

for content produced especially 

with older adults in mind. 

In the first issue of every month, count on 

Mature Focus to keep you in the know on 

timely topics related to aging well; plus a brief 

calendar of classes, screenings and more. 

In the second issue of the month, you’ll find 

Community Events for Older Adults. It’s 

chock full of classes, fitness and 

sports activities, social engagements 

and special interest opportunities presented 

by the cities of Ballwin, Chesterfield, 

Ellisville, Manchester and Wildwood. 

Twice a year we bring you 

Serving Our Seniors, a special advertising 

section that allows you to learn more about 

and connect with local businesses that might 

have just what you’re looking for. 

636.207.3720 (TTY-711) • gambrillgardens.com 

1 Strecker Road • Ellisville, MO 63011 

WE’RE PROUD TO BE YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER. 

You’re Going to Love 

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MATURE FOCUS, from page 42 

pital-based research organization. They 

tested the effects of a daily multivitamin 

on cognitive changes over a two- to threeyear 

period in 573 participants who visited 

their clinic in person, and who were 

over age 60. 

The researchers also conducted a metaanalysis 

that included over 5,000 different 

participants across the U.S. who participated 

in two other cognition studies within 

the COSMOS trial … one that had measured 

the cognitive effects of multivitamins 

in a phone-based format and another 

that did the same using the internet. 

Overall results showed statistically significant 

benefits among participants taking 

the multi-vitamin compared to placebo, 

both in global cognition and episodic 

memory. Overall, the authors estimated, a 

daily multivitamin may slow global cognitive 

aging by the equivalent of two years 

compared to a placebo. 

“Cognitive decline is among the top health 

concerns for most older adults, and a daily 

supplement of multivitamins has the potential 

as an appealing and accessible approach 

to slow cognitive aging,” said first author 

Chirag Vyas, MBBS, MPH. “These findings 

will garner attention among many older 

adults who are, understandably, very interested 

in ways to preserve (their) brain health.” 

Results of the new COSMOS trial were 

recently published in the The American 

Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 

On the calendar 

St. Luke’s Hospital presents Steps to 

Sounder Sleep on Thursday, Feb. 8 from 

noon-1 p.m. at the Desloge Outpatient 

Center, 121 St. Luke’s Center Drive in 

Chesterfield, in Building A. Are you one of 

approximately 60 million Americans who 

have a chronic sleep issue? Good sleep is 

essential for optimal health. At our free 

class, you’ll learn more about sleep along 

with strategies for sleeping better more 

often. Register at stlukes-stl.com. 

• • • 

BJC Missouri Baptist Hospital offers a 

Today’s Grandparents class on Monday, 

Feb. 12 from 6:30-9 p.m. at the Missouri 

Baptist Medical Center Clinical Learning 

Institute, 3005 N. Ballas Road. This 

hands-on class offers updates on current 

trends in infant care and feeding, and 

provides tips on local and long-distance 

grandparenting. The course fee is $20 per 

person (each person attending must register 

separately). Registration is available 

online at classes-events.bjc.org. 

• • • 

St. Luke’s Hospital presents a Bone 

Builders class on Tuesday, Feb. 20 from 

1-2:30 p.m. at the Desloge Outpatient 

Center, 121 St. Luke’s Center Drive in 

@WESTNEWSMAG 


Chesterfield, in Room 3 of Building A. 

According to the National Osteoporosis 

Foundation, 60% of adults age 50 or older 

are at risk of breaking a bone due to osteoporosis. 

Join us for this free class to learn 

more about reducing your risk through 

exercise, nutrition and medications for 

bone health. Register at stlukes-stl.com. 

• • • 

St. Luke’s Des Peres Hospital sponsors a 

Medicare 101 course on Wednesday, Feb. 

21 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Desloge Outpatient 

Center, 121 St. Luke’s Center Drive, 

in Conference Room 3 of Building A. Gain 

an understanding of the different parts of 

Medicare (A, B and D), Medicare Supplemental 

and Medicare Advantage plans, and 

find information to help you choose the 

coverage options that best meet your needs. 

The free class is offered through the Missouri 

State Health Insurance Assistance 

Program (SHIP). Registration is available 

at stlukes-stl.com. 

• • • 

St. Luke’s Hospital presents Coffee and 

Conversations on Wednesday, Feb. 21 

from 10-11 a.m. at the Desloge Outpatient 

Center, 121 St. Luke’s Center Drive, in 

Building A, Conference Room 3. Join us 

monthly for a cup of joe and conversation 

with St. Luke’s health professionals about 

health and wellness topics. This month’s 

topic is Keep Your Keys; in partnership 

with MU Healthcare, this presentation will 

cover staying medically and physically fit 

to drive, when and how to prepare for driving 

“retirement,” and tools and resources 

to help keep you safe on the road. Register 

at stlukes-stl.com. 

• • • 

Kick the Achiness of Arthritis, presented 

by St. Louis Oasis, is on Thursday, 

Feb. 22 from 10-11 a.m. at the Brentwood 

Community Center, 2505 S. Brentwood 

Blvd. This course, focusing on the lower 

body, is designed to help you learn the 

best ways to manage arthritis with exercise. 

A trained physical therapist will 

direct you through exercises to maximize 

your function and minimize your pain. 

The free course is sponsored by BJC Missouri 

Baptist Medical Center. Register at 

classes-events.bjc.org. 

• • • 

St. Luke’s Hospital offers Living a 

Health Life with Chronic Disease on 

Fridays, March 22-April 26, from 10 

a.m.-12:30 p.m. The free six-week online 

course will be presented via Zoom. Developed 

by Stanford University’s Patient 

Education Research Center, the course 

helps people gain self-confidence in controlling 

their chronic disease symptoms 

and learning how their health problems 

can affect their lives. This program is 

free of charge thanks to funding from the 

Eastern Regional Arthritis Center. Register 

online at stlukes-stl.com.





I HEALTH I 45 

VALENTINE’S DAY SPECIALS 

GIVE YOUR TEETH 

SOME EXTRA 

Love 

THIS VALENTINE’S DAY 

A recent survey explored what happens when couples with differing 

political views attempt to watch the news together. (Adobe Stock photo) 

HEALTH 

CAPSULES 

By LISA RUSSELL 

Cardiovascular deaths 

continue to rise post-COVID 

Each February marks American Heart 

Month; and in 2024, the U.S. unfortunately 

faces what public health experts recently 

called an “enduring setback” in the fight 

against heart disease. New research shows 

that a continued rise in fatal heart attacks 

and strokes since 2020 has erased a decade’s 

worth of progress the nation had previously 

made toward slowing down its No. 1 killer. 

A just-published study led by investigators 

from the U.S. Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention (CDC) analyzed 

information about the deaths of more than 

10 million U.S. adults over age 35 between 

2010 and 2022. Trends from each of those 

years show that, in sharp contrast to a 

decline of 8.9% between 2010 and 2019, 

death rates from cardiovascular causes 

rose by 9.3% from 2020 through 2022. 

“We were concerned about the emerging 

evidence that (heart disease and stroke) outcomes 

worsened during the first two years 

of the COVID-19 pandemic. We wanted to 

understand whether the concerning trends 

were temporary or whether they continued 

through 2022,” said Rebecca C. Woodruff, 

Ph.D., MPH, of the CDC’s Division for 

Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention. The 

analysis confirmed that there were 228,000 

more cardiovascular disease deaths than 

expected from 2020-2022; and they rose 

across all age, sex and ethnicity categories. 

Woodruff pointed to several possible 

explanations for the ongoing increases: 

• The pandemic prevented access to 

healthcare for many people, which may 

have led to delays in detecting and treating 

their chronic or acute heart disease. 

• Disruptions in daily life may have 

made it harder for people to do the things 

that prevent heart disease…which include 

managing high blood pressure, eating and 

sleeping well, being physically active, 

quitting tobacco, and controlling weight, 

cholesterol and blood sugar. 

• Evidence also suggests that people who 

have had COVID-19 are at higher risk for 

new or worsening heart disease, which 

may have contributed to the subsequent 

uptick in cardiovascular death rates. 

She said refocusing on prevention and 

management of cardiovascular diseases 

is an essential first step in halting these 

increases and improving public health for 

all Americans. 

Political differences may 

challenge relationships 

In this election year, the current partisan 

political climate already has many people 

concerned whether Americans with differing 

views can continue to coexist. But what 

if you and your spouse or romantic partner 

are on different sides of the political aisle … 

which by some estimates includes as many 

as 30% of American couples? 

Communications researchers at the 

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 

recently looked at this question in terms 

of couples’ media habits and their impact 

on relationships. They conducted in-depth 

interviews with about 35 couples whose 

political views differed, either from the 

outset of their relationships or after one 

partner changed political affiliation during 

the relationship. Either way, seemingly 

mundane decisions about news coverage 

and consumption became “especially difficult,” 

according to communications pro- 

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@WESTNEWSMAG 


HEALTH, from page 45 

fessor Emily Van Duyn. 

“They saw the news as inherently political, 

and their selection of a news outlet 

or the act of sharing an article or video 

meant they were intentionally pulling their 

partner into a recognition of their political 

differences,” Van Duyn said. Discussions 

about news coverage often sparked conflict, 

which included disagreements over 

the reliability of news sources and content. 

“Their cross-cutting political views presented 

many challenges for these couples,” 

she added. “Deciding which media to consume 

and whether to do so together or separately 

was difficult because it presented 

them with a choice about recognizing their 

political differences and finding a way to 

navigate them.” 

Some couples said they decided on a 

media outlet they could agree on to view 

together, while others intentionally chose 

to consume news independently, whether 

in separate rooms or by scrolling their 

social media feeds on separate devices. 

Still others responded by watching their 

preferred news outlets secretly, when their 

partner wasn’t around. 

For most of the study couples, Van Duyn 

said, if the news began to take a negative 

toll on their relationships, they eventually 

decided to avoid it altogether or to quit 

sharing articles or videos with each other, 

because doing so triggered tensions that 

affected their emotional intimacy. 

Pregnancy weight gain/ 

long-term mortality risk 

Gaining weight during pregnancy is necessary 

for a woman to have a healthy baby 

… but gaining more than the now-recommended 

amount can pose serious health 

risks for her far into the future, according 

to a recent study published in The Lancet. 

Researchers from the University of 

Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine 

looked at 50 years of data to determine 

the long-term health effects of what’s now 

considered to be excessive weight gain 

during pregnancy. They found that a higher 

risk of death from heart disease or diabetes 

existed for all the weight groups they analyzed, 

including those defined by current 

standards as underweight, normal weight, 

or overweight prior to their pregnancies. 

Updated recommendations for weight gain 

during pregnancy were set in 2009, and are 

linked directly to a woman’s weight at the 

start. They range from 28-40 pounds for 

those considered “underweight” by body 

mass index (BMI) standards to 11-20 pounds 

for those considered “obese.” By those standards, 

almost half of pregnant women now 

gain more weight than recommended. 

Approximately 39% of the cohort of 

women they studied – who had given birth 

Gaining more weight than medically 

recommended during pregnancy increases a 

woman’s mortality risk decades later, a recent 

study found. 


approximately five decades prior – had 

died by 2016. Their mortality rates rose or 

fell in correlation with their pre-pregnancy 

BMI measurements; those with the lowest 

BMIs died at a lower rate than those with 

the highest. 

The most striking statistic was that, for 

women considered underweight before 

pregnancy who gained more than the nowrecommended 

amount of weight, the risk 

of death related to heart disease climbed 

by 84%. Those of normal or average prepregnancy 

weight who gained more than 

recommended had a 20% higher risk. 

“We hope that this work leads to greater 

efforts to identify new, effective, and safe 

ways to support pregnant people in achieving 

a healthy weight gain,” said the study’s 

lead author Stefanie Hinkle, Ph.D. “We 

showed that gaining weight during pregnancy 

within the current guidelines may 

protect against possible negative impacts 

much later in life, and this builds upon evidence 

of the short-term benefits for both 

maternal health and the health of the baby.” 

MU researchers link IBS 

with other chronic illnesses 

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is an 

extremely common gut disorder that impacts 

millions of Americans of all ages – up to 15% 

of the population, statistics suggest. Their 

symptoms tend to come and go, and can 

include intense abdominal pain and cramping, 

bloating, diarrhea and constipation. There’s 

no definite cause and no cure for this frustrating 

condition, but it can often be improved 

with medication and dietary changes. 

Researchers at the University of Missouri 

School of Medicine recently discovered 

links between IBS and two other common, 

yet similarly mysterious, illnesses. 

Their recent analysis of more than 1.2 

million people hospitalized with IBS found 

that they were five times more likely than 

people without IBS to also have fibromyalgia, 

a chronic disorder characterized by 

muscle pain and tenderness throughout 

the body. These patients also more frequently 

suffered from chronic fatigue 

syndrome (CFS), a disease that causes 

severe tiredness not relieved by sleep, 

weakness, insomnia, brain fog and 

other symptoms. 

These findings build on previous 

research the team published early in 

2023. In that study of the same group of 

patients, they found that the prevalence 

of mental health problems, including 

anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and 

others, was significantly higher in those 

with IBS than in the general adult population. 

In fact, more than 38% of the 

patients with IBS also dealt with anxiety, 

and more than 27% with depression. 

Dr. Yezaz Ghouri, MU assistant professor 

of clinical medicine and senior 

author of both studies, said identifying other 

ailments as early as possible in those with 

IBS can help to improve their quality of life. 

“This is yet another example where ailments 

in the gut are linked to ailments elsewhere 

in the body and mind,” Ghouri said. 

“As we continue to learn more about how gut 

health effects health elsewhere, it is important 

that clinicians look for and manage 

somatic comorbidities in IBS patients.” 

On the calendar 

BJC St. Louis Children’s Hospital presents 

a Staying Home Alone in-person 

class on Saturday, Feb. 17 from 10-11:30 

a.m. at the SLCH Specialty Care Center 

West County, 13001 N. Outer Forty Road 

in Town and Country, in the third-floor 

conference room. Parents and children 

attend the class together to ensure a child’s 

readiness – physically, mentally, socially 

and emotionally – to stay at home alone. A 

family workbook, emergency cards, family 

fire escape plan, parent checklist for assessing 

readiness and first aid kit are included. 

The registration fee is $25 per family. To 

register, call (314) 454-5437. 

• • • 

BJC offers a Bariatric Surgery Information 

Session on Monday, Feb. 19 from 5:30- 

6:30 p.m., live via Zoom. Join a Washington 

University bariatric physician to learn more 

about surgical treatment options available at 

Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Barnes-Jewish 

West County Hospital for patients who meet 

certain criteria. To register, visit classesevents.bjc.org; 

to learn more about BJC’s 

bariatric surgery criteria for patients, call 

(314) 454-7224 and press Option 1. 

• • • 

BJC St. Louis Children’s Hospital sponsors 

a Babysitting 101 virtual class on 

Tuesday, Feb. 27 from 6-8:30 p.m., live via 

Teams Meeting. This interactive class is a 

great introduction to the basics of babysitting 

and is recommended for ages 10 and 

above. A workbook, first-aid kit, babysitter 

skills assessment and backpack are 

included in the cost of $25 per child. Please 

note that the child is the registrant; parents 

may sit in on the class at no additional cost. 

Register online at bjc.org/babysitting-class. 

• • • 

St. Luke’s Hospital presents Be Still to 

Chill: Basics of Meditation on Wednesday, 

Feb. 28 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Desloge 

Outpatient Center, 121 St. Luke’s Center 

Drive in Chesterfield, in Building A. Have 

you tried meditating but find it difficult or 

frustrating? Meditation is a research-supported 

way to help reduce stress, anxiety and 

chronic pain, improve our sleep, and even 

reduce risk for some diseases! Come to this 

free in-person program to learn the basics of 

meditation as well as many tips to support 

your practice. Register at stlukes-stl.com. 

• • • 

St. Luke’s Hospital presents Let’s Cook!! 

Heart Healthy Cooking on Thursday, Feb. 

29 from 2-3 p.m. at Schnucks Eatwell Market, 

220 THF Blvd. in Chesterfield. The DASH 

(Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) 

diet is a flexible and balanced eating plan for 

everyone that promotes a heart-healthy lifestyle. 

During American Heart Month, join a 

St. Luke’s dietitian to get the scoop on DASH, 

learn now to prepare sodium-free seasonings, 

and taste a delicious cranberry grain salad. 

The course is free. Register at stlukes-stl.com. 

• • • 

Mercy St. Louis offers a Sitter Skills 

course on Friday, March 1 from 6-9 p.m. 

at the hospital, 615 S. New Ballas Road, 

in Classroom #2 on the 7th floor. Children 

ages 11 to 13 will learn about infant care, 

child development, interactive play, safety, 

handling emergency situations and marketing 

babysitting services. Children should 

bring a doll or stuffed animal to class to 

learn how to change diapers. The cost is 

$30 per child. Register online by visiting 

mercy.net/practice/mercy-hospital-st-louis 

and clicking on Classes, Seminars and 

Events, then Skills Classes for Kids. 

• • • 

St. Luke’s Hospital is launching the St. 

Luke’s Book Club in 2024, and will host 

periodic community events to discuss book 

selections. The first St. Luke’s Book Club 

event will be held on Tuesday, March 26 

from 6:30-8 p.m. at the hospital’s Institute 

for Health Education, 232 S. Woods Mill 

Road in Chesterfield, in Conference Rooms 

1 and 2. The cost to participate is $5. Those 

who register to attend in person will receive 

a copy of communication and leadership 

consultant Anne Grady’s book, “Strong 

Enough: Choosing Courage, Resilience, 

and Triumph.” Join us for this interactive 

meeting based on Grady’s book to discuss 

lessons learned, share motivating stories, 

and support others on their journey toward 

realizing they are “strong enough.” Space is 

limited. Register at stlukes-stl.com.



Life is filled with seasons of change, 

but sometimes people delay making 

important changes in their lifestyle 

when often moving forward can help 

them make the most of their lives, said 

Missy Fevold, director of leasing at 

Gambrill Gardens. 

For example, life can get better when 

someone finally takes that step and joins 

an independent living retirement community 

like Gambrill Gardens, Fevold said. 

“Everybody in life is intimidated by 

change,” she said. “Taking that step 

into a senior living community is not as 

scary as you think,” she said. “We have 

a lot of people move in who say I should 

have done this years ago.” 

Gambrill Gardens is a unique and 

enduring place. The independent living 

community has been serving seniors for 

more than 45 years. Purchased seven 

years ago from the United Methodist 

Church, the facilities have had a $7 million 

renovation. 

The space is bright and airy. There are 

big windows, restful relaxing scenery, 

fireplaces, game rooms, puzzle rooms, 

lots of nice places to sit and visit and 

coffee going 24 hours a day, Fevold said. 

“We have a very warm community; 

our residents are very warm and friendly. 

They really enjoy meeting new friends and 

neighbors,” she said. 

Socializing is just one part of three aspects 

of life that lead to good health and satisfaction 

as we age, Fevold said. The other two 

are movement and nutrition. Socially, being 

in a community with people in a similar situation 

is better than being isolated, she said. 

“The studies coming out that show what a 

lack of socialization can do to the aging process 

are startling,” she said. “What we like 

to concentrate on are a really nice variety 

of social activities. We have happy hours 

every Friday night, live music two to three 

afternoons or early evenings a week. There 

are craft classes, cooking classes, painting 

classes, Bingo every Saturday night. And 

we celebrate every national holiday. We also 

have a grand patio where we grill and watch 

Cardinals games under the stars.” 



Gambrill Gardens: A change for the better 

As for movement, the community is surrounded 

by 25 acres of greenspace with 

walking paths where there are opportunities 

to see wildlife, and if indoor exercise is what 

you prefer, Gambrill Gardens has that too. 

“We have a state of the art gym and personal 

trainer and 12 to 15 classes a week, 

everything from balance classes and 

strength training to Tai Chi,” Fevold said. 

Nutrition is also central with delicious, 

healthy food prepared by a team of chefs 

that prepare meals made from scratch that 

include lots of veggies and fresh fruits. 

Gambrill Gardens also provides services 

that surround their 300 residents with caring 

assistance to allow people to live independently 

as long as possible. AW Health Care 

provides personal care for those who need 

it whether that is medication management, 

help with showering or assistance getting in 

I BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT I 47 

(Gambrill Gardens photo) 

and out of bed. RPI Therapy Services provide 

physical and occupational therapies for 

those needing them. 

Perhaps one of the most important reasons 

to embrace the change to independent living, 

however, is the valuable time that is gained 

when seniors leave behind the cares of a home. 

Seniors are often overwhelmed by the 

care and maintenance of their homes – snow 

removal, lawn care or even cleaning. Then, 

there are safety issues. According to one study, 

over 75 percent of American homes are not 

suited for aging safely. It might be because of 

the stairs, bathrooms or just general upkeep 

that needs addressing, Fevold said. 

People don’t realize how much time that 

takes, valuable time they could use enjoying 

life and the things they enjoy doing in life. 

“Get rid of all of that. Come into senior 

living and get back into the things you enjoy 

doing. We work with families to help make 

that change as smooth as possible,” she said. 

Call Gambrill Gardens today for a personal 

tour and learn more about its independent 

living community. 

Gambrill Gardens 

1 Strecker Road • Ellisville 

(636) 394-2992 • gambrillgardens.com 

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Magnolia Soap and Bath Co. is now open in Wildwood Town Center at 

2448 Taylor Road. 

BUSINESS 

BRIEFS 

PLACES 

Magnolia Soap and Bath Co. is now 

open in Wildwood Town Center at 2448 

Taylor Road. The store features luxurious 

and colorful hand-crafted bath soaps, bath 

bombs and steamers, plus body butter, 

beard balm and shower oil. Packed with 

pure ingredients such as plant-based oils 

and shea butter, Magnolia soap and bath 

products are designed to richly moisturize 

all skin types. Mother and son partners, 

April and Aidan Baker, are the owners of 

the new location. For more information 

search Magnolia Soap and Bath Co. Wildwood 

on social media. 

• • • 

Vantage Credit Union is holding a grand 

opening celebration from 9 a.m.-noon on 

Feb. 10 at its new location in Eureka at 1467 

W. Fifth St. The Eureka location marks the 

13th branch for Vantage. Vantage branches 

have an updated design and upgraded technology, 

including personal teller machines 

that offer the convenience of a traditional 

ATM, but with a direct video interface 

with a live Vantage teller. In celebration 

of the Eureka branch, Vantage is hosting a 

$500 gift card drawing. Entry in the drawing 

closes on Feb. 15. Details and rules are 

available at vcu.com/eureka500. 

• • • 

Custom home builders Hibbs Luxury 

Homes is celebrating its 20th anniversary 

in business. Hibbs Luxury Homes was one 

among the first home builders in the St. Louis 

region to build green certified homes. For 

more information go to hibbshomesusa.com. 

PEOPLE 

Courtney Nieves, CEO of Garden View 

Care Centers, has been named a 2024 St. 

Louis Titan 100. The Titan 100 program 

recognizes the Top 100 CEOs and C-level 

executives in St. Louis. The honorees will 

be published in a limited-edition Titan 100 

book and will be honored at an awards ceremony 

on April 18. 

• • • 

United Way of Greater St. Louis named 

Roman Wuller as its new board chair, 

succeeding Keith Williamson. Wuller will 

be responsible for leading United Way’s 

Board of Directors and overseeing governance 

and policy setting. Wuller serves 

as chair of Thompson Coburn and is a 

litigator representing major corporations in 

high-stakes litigation in venues across the 

country. 

• • • 

Steve Jones has been named Parkway’s 

director of transportation, effective Feb. 1. 

Jones is currently the manager of transportation 

operations and has been with Parkway 

since 2019. He has nearly 20 years 

of experience in school district transportation 

in the St. Louis region. Before joining 

Parkway, Jones served students in St. Louis 

Public Schools, Rockwood and Francis 

Howell school districts for 15 years. 

• • • 

United 4 Children announced its new 

Board of Directors. Jonathan Strong, chief 

equity and inclusion officer for the City of 

St. Louis, Stephanie Usher, assistant vice 

president for the Federal Reserve Bank and 

Susan Brewster, strategic growth manager 

for Hussmann, will serve as directors and 

Beth Csengody, vice president of advisor 

diversity and inclusion at LPL Financial, will 

become the new board chair. United 4 Children 

is a nonprofit serving children, families, 

and child care partners across Missouri. 

• • • 

Delta Dental of Missouri has named 

Rhonda Graack as its general counsel 

where she will lead the company’s compliance, 

legal, audit and government relations 

functions. Graack has more than 15 years 

of experience as a corporate healthcare 

attorney and compliance executive. Graack 

earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Arizona 

State University College of Law.


WEST NEWSMAGAZINE I BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT I 49 

Family Partners Home: Smaller, more comfortable and a little closer to home 



Family Partners Home has 

expanded and completed its new 

three home neighborhood especially 

designed for people with dementia. 

These homes provide an intimate, 

comfortable environment in a traditional 

neighborhood. The new 

assisted living homes were created 

with one idea in mind – people with 

dementia do best in a small homelike 

environment. 

“When you are forgetful, a small 

environment is better,” said Barth 

Holohan, the company’s president. 

“And it’s best to have the environment 

you’re used to, a home with a 

kitchen, living room and dining room, 

where people are hanging out in the 

living areas and only going to the bedroom 

at night to sleep.” 

Large retirement communities are 

often overwhelming for people with 

dementia, which can drive them to their 

bedrooms, Holohan said. 

Family Partners Home has a total of 

four homes in the City of Manchester at 

141 and Manchester Road. 

“It’s like a small neighborhood of 

assisted living memory homes in 

a larger residential neighborhood,” 

Holohan said. “When you look out the 

(Family Partners Home photo) 

windows you see other houses not a thoroughfare. 

There are neighbors. You see 

kids getting on school buses. At Halloween, 

we have trick or treaters,” he said. 

The homes have anywhere between eight 

to 13 people. The idea is to keep the number 

of people small and give them more attention. 

Resident to staff ratios average one to 

four, or one to five. The industry average is 

one to 15, Holohan said. 

“Even if you don’t consider the environment, 

just the ratio itself, it is so much 

better,” he said. “The nice thing about a 

small home is that it is easier to navigate 

and there are more people with eyes and 

ears on your needs. And you can add some 

meaning to someone’s life. That’s 

what really is accomplished by a 

smaller environment.” 

The current homes also have a 

house doctor, nurse practitioner, 

nurses and other specialists who 

make regular visits along with 

the activities staff. 

Nationally, this type of smaller 

home is a growing model in the 

senior care industry. But most 

people don’t know this model 

exists, Holohan said. 

“We are the only one in the 

central corridor,” he said. “Our 

homes are all in Manchester.” 

Family Partners began as a day care 

center for people with dementia, giving 

them a place to socialize and participate in 

activities while family caregivers gained 

some respite. Holohan said many families 

eventually moved their family members to 

a retirement community, but it was hard 

for the person to manage the environment. 

Former clients suggested a 24-hour option 

based on the day care model. 

“In 2017 we purchased an existing home 

in Manchester and made it into an eightbed 

assisted living home, and we had a 

good response. In 2021, the second home 

was built,” he said. 

In Fall of 2023 we finished our fourth 

home and now have a total of 46 bedrooms. 

Glowing testimonials from family members 

have convinced Holohan Family Partners 

Home is on the right track. 

“My husband and I had a previous experience 

with his mother residing in a largescale 

community, and I was determined 

to find a better solution for my mother. At 

Family Partners Home my mother receives 

wonderful care from a tight knit team of 

professionals that understands her individual 

needs and desires,” said Paula, daughter 

of a resident. 

“Family Partners has met our family in a 

time of need. They’ve exceeded our expectations. 

The staff is kind and caring and the 

environment is comfortable and stimulating 

for my husband,” said Karen, spouse 

of a resident. 

“We’ve heard story after story about 

what a transformation it has been in their 

lives,” Holohan said. 

To discover Family Partners Home for 

yourself, schedule a meeting and tour the 

homes. 

Family Partners Home 

Assisted Living Homes • Manchester 

(314) 686-4468 • familypartnershome.com 

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754 Spirit 40 Park Drive • Chesterfield, MO 63005

50 I EVENTS I 

LOCAL 

EVENTS 



ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 

Small Works Exhibition & Short 

Sets Community Band Cabaret is at 6 

p.m. on Friday, March 1 at the Schroeder 

Park building, 359 Old Meramec Station 

Road in Manchester. Enjoy light refreshments 

and hear works and music by local 

musicians. Free event. For details, visit 

manchestermo.gov. 

• • • 

St. Louis Jewish Film Festival Opening 

Night Celebration is at 4 p.m. on 

Sunday, April 7 at the B&B Theater, 

12657 Olive Blvd. in Creve Coeur, featuring 

the stories and the cinema making 

timely human connections to the Israeli 

filmmakers from Sapir College. Tickets 

are $20. For details, visit jccstl.com/artsideas/st-louis-jewish-film-festival. 

BENEFITS 

The Art and Wine local artists exhibition 

is from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 23 at 

the Longview Farm House, 13525 Clayton 

Road in Town & Country. Admission 

is $25 per person with food and drink 

included. Proceeds go toward the city’s 

Military and First Responders Tribute. 

For tickets, call (314) 587-2814 or visit 

town-and-country.org/379/Events. 

• • • 

The Empowering Inclusion and Accessibility 

Disability Awareness Convention 

is from noon-4 p.m. on Sunday, March 24 

at the DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton, 16625 

Swingley Ridge Road in Chesterfield. The 

event brings together disability advocates, 

leaders, experts and the general public to 

raise awareness and promote inclusion and 

accessibility. Free event. For details, visit 

thearyafoundation.org. 

The Empowering Inclusion and Accessibility Disability Awareness 

Convention is from noon-4 p.m. on Sunday, March 24 at the DoubleTree 

Hotel by Hilton, 16625 Swingley Ridge Road in Chesterfield. All are 

invited to attend. 

(Source: Arya Foundation) 

FAMILY & KIDS 

Little Explorers is from 9-10:30 

a.m. on the first and third Wednesday of 

the month at various parks in Ballwin. 

Themed activities change weekly and 

include a craft and snack for ages 2-5. 

The cost is $8 for residents; $10 for nonresidents. 

Parents and guardians are free. 

For details, visit ballwin.mo.us. 

• • • 

Creative Corner is from 10-11 a.m. 

monthly on the first Thursday at The Timbers 

of Eureka, 1 Coffey Park Lane. This 

is a creative, messy program, focusing 

on exploration, science, sensory skills, 

crafts, snacks and more for ages 2-5. An 

adult needs to stay with the child. The 

cost is $10 for residents, $11 for nonresidents. 

To register, visit eureka.mo.us. 

• • • 

Tot Time is from 9-11 a.m. on Friday, 

Feb. 16 at the Chesterfield Community 

Center in the Chesterfield Mall. Kids 

aged 5 and younger will engage in various 

activities, story time, group games, 

and arts and crafts. Siblings ages 6-11 are 

welcome when the tot and an adult accompany 

them. A $3 cash-only drop-in fee per 

child is charged. For details, visit chesterfield.mo.us 

and search “Tot Time.” 

• • • 

Help Grow an Easter Egg Garden 

starting on Friday, Feb. 23 and continuing 

through Thursday, March 21 at Bluebird 

Park, 225 Kiefer Creek Road in Ellisville. 

Register at ellisville.mo.us and pick up a 

wooden egg at the Parks building, decorate 

the egg and then return the egg to 

the Parks building. The winner will be 

announced on March 25. The eggs will be 

outside, so it is recommended to use exterior 

paint and waterproof materials. Fee is 

$5. For details, visit ellisville.mo.us. 

• • • 

A Mother-Son Dance Party is from 

6:30-8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 23 at the 

@WESTNEWSMAG 


Eureka Community Center, 333 Bald Hill 

Road. Pizza, dessert, a craft activity and 

dancing. Dressing up is encouraged but 

optional. The cost is $12 for residents; 

$13 for non-residents. Spots will fill up 

fast. Register at eureka.mo.us. 

• • • 

A Daddy Daughter Dance is from 

6:30-8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24 at the 

Eureka Community Center, 333 Bald Hill 

Road. Pizza, dessert, a craft activity and 

dancing. Dressing up is encouraged but 

optional. The cost is $12 for residents; 

$13 for non-residents. Spots will fill up 

fast. To register, visit eureka.mo.us. 

• • • 

Pages and Pals “Messy Munchkins” 

is from 10-11 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 29 

at the Paul Schroeder Park Building, 359 

Old Meramec Station Road in Manchester. 

Children will hear a story, have a snack 

and do a craft based on a theme. An adult 

must accompany the participating child. 

The cost is $5 for residents; $6.50 for nonresidents. 

Register at manchestermo.gov. 

• • • 

Family Binglo Night is from 6:30-8 

p.m. (doors open at 6:15 p.m.) on Friday, 

March 1 at The Timbers of Eureka Gymnasium, 

333 Bald Hill Road. Wear bright 

colors and bring glow sticks and snacks. 

The cost is $7 for residents; $8 for nonresidents 

and includes bingo supplies, 

prizes, pizza and refreshments. Register 

before Feb. 27 at eureka.mo.us. 

• • • 

St. Patrick’s Family Bingo is from 

6-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 14 at 

the Manchester Parks Building, 359 Old 

Meramec Station Road. This is a familybased 

bingo for all ages and includes 

pizza, drinks, & prizes for the winners. 

Tickets are $8 per resident and $10.40 

per non-resident. Everyone ages 2 and 

up needs to buy a ticket. For details, visit 

manchestermo.gov/parks. 

• • • 

See EVENTS, page 52 

FREE DRINK ON TONY 

AND DOMINIC! 

Use this ad to get a free drink on them! 

House Brands Only. Good For Only One Drink! (This ad) 


(Ballwin/Ellisville) 

636-391-3700 

For Crêpe Sake! 

Gift an Experience or Join a Class! 

Crepe-Making 

classes available 

Group or Single 

Book now 

Call or enroll online 

17409 CHESTERFIELD AIRPORT RD, STE A | CHESTERFIELD, MO 63005 

636-778-0188 | WWW.FRENCHCREPERIE.COM | FRI-SAT-SUN 8AM-4PM



By SUZANNE CORBETT 

Back in the day, American diners 

offered menus designed to satisfy anything 

you craved, any time of day. Thanks 

to Billy G’s Chesterfield, that quintessential 

experience has returned to West St. 

Louis County. 

“This is my take on a diner that serves 

breakfast, lunch and dinner,” explained 

owner Billy Gianino. 

But there are a few noteworthy differences. 

The restaurant boasts a fully 

stocked bar that pairs perfectly with its 

upgraded dinner menu or as the starter of 

an exceptional brunch. 

“Our bar, which we plan to expand, has 

a full cocktail menu, great wines and beer, 

and the best Mimosas and Bloody Marys,” 

Gianino said. 

“We came to fill a need and do something 

new that would also capture the 

early morning rush. A diner with breakfast 

makes it different and delivers what 

the Gianino Family restaurants have 

always been known for – quality and 

quantity. Good value for your money.” 

Generous portions and creativity begin 

with breakfast and unexpected combinations 

like the Brisket Benedict, draped 

with a barbecue-spiced hollandaise; and 

the Huevos Tostadas Slinger, built on two 

crunchy corn tortillas and layered with 

hash browns, eggs any way you like them, 

homemade chili, cheddar and sweet onions. 

In keeping with the updated diner theme, 

Gianino has even reimagined the southern 

classic Chicken and Waffles. Hot honeyglazed 

waffles are plated with trashed 

wings that have been lightly dusted with 

ranch seasoning. From morning to night, 

this dish hits all the right notes. 

Omelets are big at Billy G’s, both in 

popularity and size. Try the Fajita stuffed 

with grilled chicken breast, peppers and 

onions and topped with ranchero sauce, or 

the Farmer’s Market packed with six different 

veggies and goat cheese. 

To make breakfast complete add a glass 

of fresh-squeezed orange juice, made 

daily in-house. 

Among the restaurant’s lunch mainstays 

are Smash Burgers made with a triple 

grind of brisket, chuck and sirloin; then, 

dressed any way you like it. 

But perhaps you have a taste for something 

green. If so, try the Hollywood Cobb 

Salad made true to the 1930s recipe with 

plenty of grilled chicken, bacon, egg, blue 

cheese and avocado. And don’t overlook 

the ultimate throwback diner sandwich, 

The Triple Decker, also known as the club 

sandwich. Three slices of white, or multigrain, 

bread are shuffled with turkey, ham, 

bacon, lettuce, tomato and mayo. Ask for 

the side of chips and you’ll have a hardto-beat 

taste straight out of the past. 

Laced throughout the diner’s menu are 

Gianino Family specialties, such as its signature 

salad, pizzas built on house-made 

dough, and Italian classics like Chicken 



Billy G’s Chesterfield: A delicious destination morning, noon and night 

Billy G’s Chesterfield 

1772 Clarkson Road • Chesterfield • (636) 778-9120 • billygs.com 

Hours: 7 a.m.-8 p.m., Sunday-Thursday; 7 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday & Saturday 

Brisket Benedict, a Smash Burger and an Orange Pomme 

I 51 

Spedini and Linguine Tutto Mare, bursting 

with seafood – P.E.I. mussels, littleneck 

clams, bay scallops, shrimp – in a 

white wine and garlic sauce. 

“In a few weeks look for our new 2.0 

menu,” Gianino said. “We’ll be adding 

more appetizers and dinner options like 

Meatloaf, Chicken Fried Steak, and a variety 

of pasta dishes. We’ll also have more 

off-the-menu and blue-plate specials like 

Chicken Pot Pie and Butterflied Shrimp 

with Fries and Slaw.” 

Perhaps the greatest asset of Billy G’s 

Chesterfield, even beyond its variety and 

value, is its people. 

“It’s all about hospitality,” Gianino said. 

“I want people to experience our hospitality, 

enjoy really good food, and have a 

great time.” 

LIKE 

US ON 

gooD FrienDS. 

great FooD. 

colD DrinkS. 

Daily lunch & Dinner SpecialS 

NOW OPEN FOR DINNER 

Facebook.com/midriversnewsmagazine 

288 lamp & lantern Village - upper leVel 

636-256-7201 

Lenten Lunch & Dinner Specials 

• Clam Chowder 

• Lobster Rangoon 

• Frog Legs 

• BBQ Salmon 

• 

165 Lamp & Lantern Village 

Town & Country 

636-207-0501 

*all fish subject to availability 

• Grilled/Blackened Tilapia 

• Tendersweet Fried Clams 

• Yellowstone Fillets 

• Coconut Shrimp 

• Walleye 

Carryout 

Children’s Menu 

Happy Hour Daily 

www.lazyyellow.com 

• AlmondFish 

• PretzelFish 

• NorthernFish 

• PecanFish 

• Crab Cakes 

631 Big Bend Rd. 

Manchester 

• PIZZA, SALAD, WINGS 

• COMFORT FOODS 

• COCKTAILS & WINE 

• DAILY SPECIALS 

• FAMILY FRIENDLY 

• WATCH ALL THE GAMES 

The newest member of the Gianino 

family of restaurants. The Gianinos 

have been serving St. Louis 

delicious meals for almost 50 years! 

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 

Party Room Available 

at Big Bend Location 1772 Clarkson Road • Chesterfield • (636) 778-9120 

636-207-1689 

www.billygs.com 

FOLLOW FOR UPDATES

52 I EVENTS I 



COME PIG OUT AT 3 BAY BBQ & BAKERY 

Best Pulled Pork This Side Of The Mississippi! 

• smoked sticky baby-back ribs • pork steaks • paninis • brats • burgers 

• smoked brisket • smoked turkey breast • all-beef BIG hot dogs • homemade chips 

• homemade mac & cheese • GG burger • smoked pulled chicken 

smoked pulled pork • 3 Bay smoked brisket philly cheese • nachos & more! 

Who, What, When, 

Where, Why and How – 

that’s what we want to know. 

Send your event details to 

events@newsmagazinenetwork.com and score free publicity. 

Event notices for print publication are due at least six weeks 

out from the date of the event. Events with advance registration 

should be submitted six weeks out from that deadline. 

All events will be listed online and in print when sent in with 

enough advance notice. 

25% OFF 

One Meal 

With this coupon. 


Excluding 1/2 & Full Slab of Ribs 

Gooey Butter Bars, Chocolate Chunk Brownies, Peanut Butter Bars, 

Hawaiian Pineapple Cake, Brookies, Banana Chocolate Chip Bread, 

Apple Chunk Cake, Banana Cake w/Cinnamon Frosting and so much more! 

NEW Sloppy Rib Sandwich 

Our Amazing Smoked Baby Back Ribs, Shredded, 

and Mixed with our own Sweet GG’S BBQ Sauce 

Inside W. County Phillips 66 @ Clayton & Woodsmill Rd 

14195 Clayton Rd, Town & Country, MO 63017 • 636.227.1208 

www.3baybbq.com • Tues-Fri 10:30am-7:00pm • Open Saturdays: Noon to 7pm 

EVENTS, from page 50 

Nerf Wars is from 5-6 p.m. on Friday, 

March 15 at The Pointe, 333 Holloway 

Road in Ballwin. Children ages 6-10 should 

bring their own Nerf guns and compete in 

three 20-minute games of Capture the Flag, 

Team vs Team, and Last Person Standing. 

Protective eyewear must be brought and 

worn by all participants. Extra Nerf ammo 

will be available for use. The cost is $15 

for residents and $18 for non-residents. To 

register, visit ballwin.mo.us. 

• • • 

Egg Stravaganza is at 10 a.m. on Saturday, 

March 23 at Central Park, 16365 Lydia 

Hill Drive in Chesterfield. There will be 

thousands of eggs ready for the big hunt. 

The Bunny will be making an appearance, 

along with crafts and activities. 

Children will be divided into age 

groups. Don’t forget a basket. Tickets 

are $10 until March 22 and $15 on 

the day of the hunt. For details, visit 

chesterfield.mo.us and search, “Egg 

Stravaganza.” 

• • • 

Hip Hop Hurray Hunt is at 10 

a.m. on Saturday, March 23 at Bluebird 

Park, 225 Kiefer Creek Road 

in Ellisville. The Easter Bunny will 

leave a trail of eggs in Bluebird Park. 

Children 9 and under will hunt for 

eggs and prizes. Free event. Preregistration 

is required at ellisville. 

mo.us. 

• • • 

Egg Hunt is from 10 a.m. to noon 

on Saturday, March 23 at Fairway 

Elementary School, 480 Old Fairway 

Drive in Wildwood. 14,000 eggs are ready 

to be found for kids in age categories of 

3-12. Meet the bunny, stay for the dance 

party, make a craft, bounce on inflatables 

and more. All are welcome. No registration 

is needed. For details, visit cityofwildwood.com 

or call (636) 458-0440. 

• • • 

A Youth Easter Egg Hunt is at 10 a.m. 

on Saturday, March 23 at Legion Park, 333 

Bald Hill Road in Eureka. Features separate 

areas for ages 2 and younger, 3-4, 5-7 

and 8-10. Hunts begin at 11 a.m. with age 

groups staggered in 5-minute increments. 

A pancake breakfast served by the Knights 

of Columbus will be available while supplies 

last. Admission is free. Participants 

should park at the Eureka Community 

Center. For details, visit eureka.mo.us. 

• • • 

Flashlight Egg Hunt is from 7:30-9 

p.m. on Wednesday, March 27 at the Paul 

Schroeder Park, 359 Old Meramec Station 

Road in Manchester. Bring a flashlight and 

basket to hunt for eggs after dark. Includes 

pizza and games. For ages 10-14. $11 for 

residents; $14.30 for non-residents. Preregistration 

required at manchestermo.gov. 

@WESTNEWSMAG 


SPECIAL INTEREST 

The city of Wildwood’s (Virtual) 

Cabin Fever Hiking Challenge is back 

for 2024. Complete two designated hikes 

within the timeframes, submit your selfies 

and earn Wildwood swag. Hike 1 runs 

from Thursday, Feb. 1-18. Hike 2 runs 

from Friday, March 1-17. There is no 

cost to participate. For details and route 

maps, visit cityofwildwood.com. 

• • • 

Advice for Life is at 6 p.m. on Tuesdays 

beginning Feb. 13 at The Jewish 

Learning Institute in the Chesterfield 

Mall, featuring a 6-week course of 

Rebbe’s guidance for leading a more 

purposeful life. The cost starts at $99. To 

register, visit myjli.com. 

The Chesterfield Shamrock Run is at 8:30 a.m. 

on Saturday, March 16 at the Chesterfield Valley 

Athletic Complex, 17925 N.Outer 40 Road in 

Chesterfield. The race will consist of a 5K or 10K 

race and a Lil’ Leprechaun Run for kids. 

(Source: Chesterfield Parks and Recreation) 

• • • 

A Ceramic Shoe Wine Bottle Holder 

art class is from 5:30-8 p.m. on Thursday, 

Feb. 15 at the Ballwin Golf Course 

and Events Center, 333 Holloway Road. 

This class features step-by-step instructions. 

The cost is $60 for residents; $65 

for non-residents. Register at ballwin. 

mo.us. 

• • • 

Garden Club meets at 6:30 p.m. on 

Wednesday, Feb. 28 at the Chesterfield 

Community Center, 237 Chesterfield 

Mall. Make connections with fellow gardeners 

while learning new tips and tricks. 

Membership is free. To register, email 

recreation@chesterfield.mo.us. 

• • • 

Project Unplugged Winter Workshop 

is from 2-3:30 p.m. on Sunday, 

March 3 at the Longview Farm Barn in 

Town & Country. Herbal Tea DIY. The 

cost per session is $25 per person. Register 

at town-and-country.org/379/Events. 

• • • 

Card Making is from 10 a.m.-noon 

on Thursday, March 7 at the Chester- 

See EVENTS, next page





I 53 

EVENTS, from previous 

field Community Center in the Chesterfield 

Mall. Create handmade cards for 

all occasions. Each class is themed by 

season. The cost is $10 per class, cash 

only. All ages. Register by emailing olderadults@chesterfield.mo.us. 

• • • 

The One Wow Moment Biblical 

Course is from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. or 

6:30-8 p.m. on Thursday, March 14 at 

Chabad of Chesterfield in the Chesterfield 

Mall. The course discusses six 

women who used one moment to change 

everything and teaches how to make 

courageous and meaningful decisions. 

Additional classes will be offered on 

April 11 and May 16. The cost starts at 

$99; scholarships are available. Register 

at JewishChesterfield.com/wow. 

• • • 

The Chesterfield Shamrock Run is 

at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 16 at 

the Chesterfield Valley Athletic Complex, 

17925 N.Outer 40 Road in Chesterfield. 

The race will consist of a 5K or 

10K race and a Lil’ Leprechaun Run for 

kids. The 5K/10K races begin at 8:30 

a.m.; the Fun Run begins at 10 a.m. Participants 

registered by Feb. 25 receive 

participation shirts. The 5K/10K cost 

is $25 through Feb.18 and increases 

through race day. The Lil’ Leprechaun 

Run is $15 through race day. Register at 

chesterfield.mo.us/shamrock-run. 

• • • 

Adult Egg Hunt is from 7:30-9:30 

p.m. on Friday, March 22 at the Paul A. 


Road in Manchester. For ages 21 

and over. Cost is $10 until March 17 or 

$13 on March 18. Bring chairs, drinks 

and food. There will be bonfires and 

fun. Held rain or shine. To register, visit 

ellisville.mo.us. 

• • • 

Arbor Day Celebration is from 10 

a.m.-noon on Saturday, March 23 at 

Kircher Park, 25 Williams Road in 

Eureka. Stop by Kircher Park during the 

Youth Easter Egg Hunt to pick up a free 

tree. Limit one tree per family. Handicap 

parking will be available at Kircher 

Park, general event parking is available 

at Eureka Soccer Park. Free with a nonperishable 

food item. For details, visit 

eureka.mo.us. 

• • • 

PJ 5K & 1 Mile Sleepwalk is from 

8 a.m.-noon on Saturday, March 23 at 


Road in Manchester. Each registrant 

will receive a shirt, a finisher medal, 

post-run snacks and more. Wear your 

pajamas. Pre-registration cost is $25 for 

a family and $30 for an individual. On 

race day, cost is $30 for a family and 

$35 for an individual. For details, visit 

manchestermo.gov. 

• • • 

Paint Your Pet is from 5:30-8 p.m. 

on Thursday, March 28 at the Ballwin 

Golf Course, 333 Holloway Road in 

Ballwin. Features simple step-by-step 

instructions for an acrylic painting on 

a 16x20 stretched canvas. The cost is 

$55 for residents; $60 for non-residents. 

Register at ballwin.mo.us. Pet photos 

must be sent in advance to artherapystudios@yahoo.com. 

Looking for Lenten fish fries in West County? 

Here is an alphabetical list of Friday 

Fish Fries that will take you all the way 

through Lent: Feb. 16 through March 22. 

American Legion Post 397, 934 Rue 

De La Banque in Creve Coeur from 11 

a.m.-2 p.m. and 4:30-7 p.m. Catfish, cod, 

shrimp, clams, french fries, baked beans, 

spaghetti, hushpuppies, coleslaw and 

potato salad. For details, call (314) 872- 

3186. 

• • • 

Ballwin VFW Post #6274, 115 Mimosa 

Lane from 4:30-7 p.m. or until sold out. 

Choice of cod, catfish, shrimp or chicken 

strips, plus two sides. For details, visit 

Facebook and search, “Ballwin VFW Post 

6274.” 

• • • 

Christ Prince of Peace Parish, 415 

Weidman Road in Manchester from 4:45- 

7:30 p.m. Fried cod, baked tilapia, grilled 

shrimp, cheese pizza and more. For details, 

visit christprinceofpeace.com or call (636) 

391-1307. 

• • • 

Holy Infant Catholic Church, 627 

Dennison Drive in Ballwin from 4:30- 

7:30 p.m. Fried grouper, baked salmon, 

baked or fried cod and shrimp. For details, 

visit holyinfantballwin.org. 

• • • 

Incarnate Word Knights of Columbus, 

13416 Olive Blvd. in Chesterfield 

from 4-7 p.m. Fried cod, fried shrimp, 

baked tilapia, Cajun seafood gumbo and 

more. Bulk orders and online payments for 

most of the menu items will be accepted. 

For details, visit stlfishfry.com. 

• • • 

Most Sacred Heart Church, 350 E. 

Fourth Street in Eureka from 4-7 p.m. 

Fried fish, homemade coleslaw, green 

beans, pasta and dessert. Drive-thru or 

dine-in. For details, visit sacredhearteureka.org 

or call (636) 938-5048. 

• • • 

St. Alban Roe Fish Fry is from 4:30-7 

p.m. on Fridays Feb. 16 and 23, March 

1 and 8 at Mikesch Hall, 2001 Shepard 

Road in Wildwood. Alaskan whitefish, 

fried cod, fried catfish, panko breaded butterfly 

shrimp, mac n’cheese, cheese pizza 

by the slice with assorted sides and desserts. 

Carry-out is available. For details, 

call (636) 458-2977. 

• • • 

St. Bridget of Kildare, 223 W. Union 

St. in Pacific from 4-7 p.m. Fried catfish, 

cod, shrimp, fries, green beans, spaghetti, 

cole slaw and desserts. Carry out, drivethru 

and dine-in. For details, visit sbkparish.org 

or call (636) 271-3993. 

• • • 

St. Clare of Assisi, 15642 Clayton 

Road in Ellisville, from 4-8 p.m. Fried 

and baked cod, fried catfish, and shrimp 

with sides, appetizers and children’s dinners 

also available. For details, visit saintclareofassisi.org. 

• • • 

St. Joseph Parish, 567 St. Joseph 

Lane in Manchester, from 4:30-7:15 p.m. 

Fish and all the trimmings, fish tacos and 

homemade desserts. Dine-in or carry out. 

For details, visit stjoemanchester.org. 

WEST HOME PAGES 

H NEST 

JUNK HAULING 

DIY DUMPSTER RENTAL 

$ 

399 



314-312-1077 

Locally Owned & Operated 

THE FAN MAN 

INSTAllATIoN ProFESSIoNAlS 

Ceiling Fans • Wholehouse Fans 

Gable Vent Fans • Recessed Lighting 

Specializing in installation for two story homes 

with no wiring on first floor. 

When Handyman Quality Just Won't Do. 

(314) 510-6400 

H NEST 

JUNK HAULING 

$ 

25.00 OFF 

Any Service 



314-312-1077 

Locally Owned & Operated 

43 Years! 

Licensed & Insured 

DECK STAINING 

NEAT • ON TIME • AFFORDABLE 

• NO Spraying or Rolling Mess! 

• NO Money Down! 

• Fully Insured • References 

SCHEDULE NOW FOR EARLY SPRING RUSH!!! 

BY 

ALL OF YOUR DECKING NEEDS 

• Wood 

• Vinyl 

• Composite 

• Aluminum 

BRUSH ONLY 

BY BRUSH ONLY 

314-852-5467 

www.deckstainingbybrushonly.com 

NOW 

ACCEPTING: 

• Refacing 

• New Decks 

• Deck Repairs 

• IPE (Hardwood) 

Rlinkconstruction@yahoo.com 

314.607.8953 

FIND US ON

54 I 



@WESTNEWSMAG 


WEST HOME PAGES 

636-938-ROOF (7663) 

Like us on Facebook 

Locally Owned & Operated by Rick Hinkson 

YOUR FAMILY PLUMBER FOR OVER 130 YEARS! 

WE DO IT ALL 

WWW.JJKOKESHANDSON.COM 

• Residential 

• Commercial 

• Repairs 

• Remodels 

• 24 Hour 

Emergency 

Service 

Locally Owned & Operated by Tim Hallahan 

Serving West County for 25+ Years 

636.458.6400 

timjhallahan@gmail.com 

westwoodpaintinginc.com 

CONCRETE 

Patios • Driveways • Sidewalks 

Textured Finishes also available 

Licensed & Insured 

Rlinkconstruction@yahoo.com 

314.607.8953 

COMPLETE KITCHEN & BATH REMODELING 

COMPLETE 

REMODELING 

PLUS OTHER INTERIOR PROJECTS 

SPECIAL 

Bathtub Conversion 

into Walk-in Shower 

References Available 

Reasonable Pricing 

Serving West County & 

Quality Work 

surrounding areas since 1985 

Senior Discounts Available 

Edwards Remodeling•Call 314-397-5100•Licensed & Insured 

• Deck Construction • Deck Staining • Fully Insured 

• Deck Repairs • Staircases • Warranty 

• Deck Upgrades • Hand Rail • No Money Up Front 

314.518.0231 

CUSTOM DECKS 

SCREEN ROOMS, ENCLOSURES, 

REPAIRS, RESURFACE, PATIOS, STAMPED CONCRETE, 

4 SEASON ROOMS, OUTDOOR LIVING SPACES 

GENERAL CONTRACTOR | All Types Of Home Improvements 

Insurance Specialist, Fully Insured | A+ BBB Rating, 30 Years Experience 

FREE INSPECTIONS & ESTIMATES 

314-282-1991 | www.CovenantContractingSTL.com 

20+ YEARS EXPERIENCE 

PATIOS • DRIVEWAYS 

RETAINING WALLS 

STAMPED CONCRETE 

314-698-0403 • www.rickthomasconcrete.com • Fully Insured 

TOP GUNN FAMILY 

CONSTRUCTION INC. 

Build and Repair Decks & Fences, 

All Painting, Wallpaper Removal, 

Powerwash/Stain Decks, Finish Basements, 

Remodeling, Kitchens, Baths 

Senior Discounts • Military Discounts 

First responders must show ID 

Call Today • 636-466-3956 

GunnFamilyConstruction@gmail.com 

J.D. CONTRACTING 

EXTERIOR SPECIALIST 

ROOFING 

Replacement Windows 

Seamless Guttering 

Leaf Guards 

Gutter Cleaning 

TEXT JIM 

314.723.0027 

• Emergency 

Repairs 

• Free Roofing 

Inspections 

• Insurance 

Claims 

• Siding, Soffit 

& Fascia 

• Insured 

CALL OR TEXT JIM TO REQUEST A BID! 

30+ YEARS 

EXPERIENCE 

County House Washing 

& Painting 

A+ 

RATED 

WEST 

INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR 

PAINTING SPECIALIST 

PAINTING • STAINING • POWERWASHING 

Mike Lynch 636.394.0013 

WWW.COUNTYHOUSEWASHING.COM 

When you want it done right... 

Check our ads first. 

636.591.0010 

Our Home Page professionals will help you 

PREP YOUR HOME FOR 

WINTER WEATHER

SKIP'S HAULING & DEMOLITION 

Junk hauling and removal. Cleanouts, 

appliances, furniture, debris, 

construction rubble, yard waste, 

excavating & demolition! 10, 15 

& 20 cubic yd. ro loff dumpsters. 

meals on duty, and more! 

Ca l (636) 227-9962 

DECKS 

- Life Insurance 

- Long-Term Disability 

- Employee Assistance Program 

- Sick Leave Compensation 

Apply at: 

h tps: /rockwood.ted.people 

EEOC 

COMPASSIONATE 

CAREGIVERS NEEDED ! 

Des Peres/ T&C- $17-19/hr. 

Personal Care A sistants & 

VisitingAngels.com/westplex 

LANDSCAPING 

• FREE ESTIMATES • 

636-775-5992 

PAINTING 

- Insured & Free Estimates - 

Dickspainting.com 

314-707-3094 

SERVICES 

ORGANIZING SPECIALIST 

Home or Office 

Let’s a range your things 

so you can easily locate them 

SUZANNE 314-422-5695 

Seeking A Position 

A+ BBB • A+ Angie's List 

Serving the Area Since 2004 

314-971-6993 or 636-234-6672 

WATERPROOFING 

Exterior drainage co rection. 

Serving Mi souri for 15 years. 

Lifetime Wa ranties. 

Free Estimate 

a b 

ANYTIME ANYWHERE 

- CEREMONIES - 

• Pastoral Visits • Graveside Visi 

Fu l S 





I 55 

BULLETIN BOARD, from page 20 

cial strength for members of the community 

often priced out of post-secondary 

opportunities. 

These scholarships will serve lowincome 

students who live within the service 

area of Ameren Missouri or Ameren 

Illinois and who are enrolled at any grade 

level in a nonprofit, two- or four-year 

accredited college or university in Missouri 

or Illinois. Scholars will be selected 

based on Scholarship Foundation eligibility 

requirements (significant financial 

need, academic potential and good character) 

and preference will be given to 

scholars who are pursuing education in 

the STEM fields or in the Joint Engineering 

Program offered by the University of 

Missouri-St. Louis and Washington University 

in St. Louis. 

Awards are renewable for up to 10 

semesters per student. In addition to 

receiving major financial support, Ameren 

All In Scholars will work with Scholarship 

Foundation student advisors to complete 

applications and learn about important 

resources and opportunities throughout 

their educational journey. 

Students funded through this program will 

qualify for paid policy fellowships and quality 

mental health services through a Scholarship 

Foundation initiative, which covers the 

cost of therapy provided by licensed, vetted 

and culturally competent providers. 

Interested students should visit myscholarshipcentral.org 

to apply or go to sfstl.org 

for more information. 

Local charity seeks 

old suitcases 

Friends of the Rainforest’s mission is 

to connect kids to the Rainforest, and the 

local charity believes that cost should not 

be a deterrent for students and families 

who want to experience the Rainforest for 

themselves. The Crandell-Walller Scholarship, 

named in honor of founder Rachel 

Crandell and education visionary Laurie 

Waller, will provide important financial 

aid to school groups that want to visit the 

Children’s Eternal Rainforest but may 

have limited opportunities and resources 

to do so. 

In anticipation of its upcoming scholarship 

trip in July, the nonprofit is working 

to identify potential outdoor and travel gear 

needs so that students are as prepared as 

possible for travel to Costa Rica and exploring 

the Children’s Eternal Rainforest. 

While much of the needed gear will be 

purchased new, some items can be provided 

through second-hand donations. Not 

only will this allow for more funds to be 

available to support the scholarship recipients 

directly, but thrifting these items also 

reflects the organization’s mission to preserve 

the rainforest, as well as honors the 

spirit of sustainability through responsible 

consumerism. 

Specifically, Friends of the Rainforest is 

looking for gently used carry-on suitcases; 

daypacks for hiking; heavy-duty, reusable 

rain ponchos; and rubber rain boots. Daypacks 

should be lightweight and big enough 

to hold a water bottle and a notebook. 

WEST CLASSIFIEDS • 636.591.0010 • CLASSIFIEDS@NEWSMAGAZINENETWORK.COM 

CARPET 

-CARPET REPAIRS- 

Restretching • Reseaming 

& Patching. 

No job is to small! 

FREE Estimates 

(314) 892-1003 

COLLECTIBLES 

WANTED TO BUY 

• SPORTS MEMORABILIA • 

Baseball Cards, Sports Cards, 

Cardinals Souvenirs and 

Memorabilia. Pre-1975 Only. 

Private Collector: 

314-302-1785 

WANTED TO BUY 

VINYL RECORD ALBUMS 

Buying quality collections of 

Rock, Jazz, Blues and More! 

No collection to large or small 

Private Collector: JP 

Call or Text 636-342-1616 or 

Email: Jp.vinyl57@gmail.com 

COMPUTER SERVICES 

Need Computer Help? 

Call Steve! 

Set up & troubleshooting 

Affordable, Certified Tech 

with 22 years’ experience! 

Call 314-497-2028 

DECKS 

Deck Staining 

EDUCATION 

Traveling Fossil & Rock 

Presentations with a Biblical 

Perspective. Suitable for all grade 

levels. FREE Fossils for everyone. 

Can the Bible timeline 

be tested and trusted? Yes! 

The Rock’s Cry Out Ministry 

Contact Bill Barnes 314-608-2928 

ELECTRICAL 

ERIC'S ELECTRIC 

Licensed, Bonded and Insured: 

Service upgrades, fans, can lights, 

switches, outlets, basements, 

code violations fixed, we do it 

all. Emergency calls & backa-up 

generators. No job too small. 

Competitively priced. Free Estimates. 

Just call 636-262-5840 

FOR SALE 

Husky 5000-Watt Gasoline 

Powered Generator with Briggs 

& Stratton Engine 

features 6250-watt peak 

Call 314 -703-7456 

Ballwin Area 

GARAGE DOORS 

DSI/Door Solutions, Inc. 

Garage Doors, Electric Open–ers. 

Fast Repairs. All makes & models. 

Same day service. Free Estimates. 

Custom Wood and Steel Doors. 

BBB Member • Angie's List 

Call 314-550-4071 

www.dsi-stl.com 

• Brushed & Rolled Only 

• No money up front/Warranty 

A+ 

Free Estimates • Insured/A+BBB 

EverythingDecks.net • (636) 337-7733 

DONATION PICKUP 

Keep your Saturdays to yourself 

and we will pick it up for you! 

Complimentary Curbside 

Donation Pickup. Anything that 

is non-perishable or flammable. 

Serving the West County area! 

CALL TODAY 

to schedule your appointment. 

314-742-4342. 

HAULING 

J & J HAULING 

WE HAUL IT ALL 

Service 7 days. Debris, furniture, 

appliances, household trash, yard 

debris, railroad ties, fencing, decks. 

Garage & Basement Clean-up 

Neat, courteous, affordable rates. 

Call: 636-379-8062 or 

email: jandjhaul@aol.com 

HAULING 

SKIP'S HAULING & DEMOLITION 

Junk hauling and removal. Cleanouts, 

appliances, furniture, debris, 

construction rubble, yard waste, 

excavating & demolition! 10, 15 

& 20 cubic yd. rolloff dumpsters. 

Licensed & insured. Affordable, dependable 

and available! 

VISA/MC accepted. 22 yrs. service. 

Toll Free 1-888-STL-JUNK 

888-785-5865 or 314-644-1948 

HELP WANTED 

COMPASSIONATE 

CAREGIVERS NEEDED!! 

VISITING ANGELS is hiring for 

Chesterfield/Wildwood/Ballwin/ 

Des Peres/ T&C- $17-19/hr. 

Personal Care Assistants & 

Homemaker shifts. Weekly Pay, 

Flexible Schedules, 401K match. 

Health Ins. after 6 mo. if FT 

Call 636-695-4422 or apply at 

VisitingAngels.com/westplex 

McCarthy Building 

Companies, Inc. 

seeks VD C Assistant Manager 

in Des Peres, MO. Project-level 

management, implementation, 

and execution of McCarthy’s 

Virtual Design & Construction 

(VDC) and Building Information 

Modeling (BIM) processes, tools, 

and best practices within their 

assigned region. Regional travel 

required up to 20% of the time. 

Apply @ 

www.jobpostingtoday.com 

#43367. 

HOME IMPROVEMENT 

REMODEL & REPAIR 

Rotted wood, Painting, Tile, 

Drywall, Floors, Electrical, 

Carpentry, Plumbing, 

Power Washing. Insured. 


Tom Streckfuss 314-910-7458 

sbacontractingllc@gmail.com 

Total Bathroom Remodeling 

Cabinetry•Plumbing•Electrical 

30 Years Experience 

AFFORDABLE CARPENTRY 

Kitchen Remodeling, 

Wainscoting, Cabinets, 

Crown Molding, Trim, Framing, 

Basement Finishing, Custom 

Decks, Doors, Windows. 

Free estimates! 

Anything inside & out! 

Call Joe 636-699-8316 

PRISTINE MIDWEST 

CONSTRUCTION LLC 

Specializing in 

Decks & Fences 


pristinemidwest@gmail.com 

(314) 575-3879 

Don't overpay for Homecare 

• Our caregivers are carefully screened, bonded & covered under Workmans Comp 

• They will be matched to your individual needs & preferences 

• No contract required & short or long term care is available 

• Compare our affordable rates 

Senior Services, Unltd. 

142 Jungermann Road 

(Next to Barnes St. Peters Hospital) 

636-441-4944 

35 Years Serving Area Seniors 

HOMECARE 

LANDSCAPING 


RETAINING WALLS • PAVER PATIOS • DECKS 

FENCES • TREES • NEW LANDSCAPING 

LAWNS & MULCH AND MUCH MORE! 

Free Estimates 

314-280-2779 

poloslawn@aol.com 

Retaining Walls • Patios • Pruning 

Chainsaw Work • Seasonal 

Clean-up • Honeysuckle Removal 

Friendly service with attention to detail 

Call Tom 636.938.9874 

www.mienerlandscaping.com 

Leaf Clean Up 

& Vacuuming 

Pruning Work, Grading, 

Planting, and 

Dormant Sod Work. 


636-296-5050 

PAINTING 

DEFINO’S 

PAINTING SERVICES 

EST. 2006 

Interior & Exterior Painting 

Deck Staining 

- Insured & Free Estimates - 

definospainting.com 

314-707-3094 

WEDDING SERVICES 

PAINTING 

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS! 

PAINTER 

DAN VOLLMER 

• I AM INCORPORATED INC. • 

INTERIOR SPECIAL 2024 

$75 Per Avg. Rm Size 

(12’x12’ Walls 3 Room Minimum) 

FREE ESTIMATES: CALL DAN 

(636) 577-8960 

Exterior Painting! 

PLUMBING 

• ANYTHING IN PLUMBING • 

Good Prices! Basement 

bathrooms, small repairs & code 

violations repaired. Fast Service. 

Certified, licensed plumber - MBC 

Plumbing - Call or text anytime: 

314-409-5051 

LICENSED PLUMBER 

Bonded & Insured 

Available for all your 

plumbing needs. 

No job is too small. 


35 Years Experience. 

Senior Discounts 

24 hours service! 

314-808-4611 

TREE SERVICES 

• COLE TREE SERVICE • 

Tree and Stump Removal. 

Trimming and Deadwooding. 

Free Estimates. 

636-475-3661 

www.cole-tree-service.biz 

ANYTIME ANYWHERE CEREMONIES 

Marriage Ceremonies • Vow Renewals 

Baptisms • Pastoral/Graveside Visits 

Full Service Ministry • (314) 703-7456 

To place a Classified 

ad call 636.591.0010 

J & J HAULING 

WE HAUL IT ALL 

Service 7 days. Debris, furniture, 

a pliances, household trash, yard 

debris, railroad ties, fencing, decks. 

Garage & Basement Clean-up 

Neat, courteous, a fordable rates. 

WEST CLASSIFIEDS • 636.591.0010 • CLASSIFIEDS@NEWSMAGAZINENETWORK.COM 

WWW.WESTNEWSMAGAZINE.COM 

Ca l: 636-379-8062 or 

email: jandjhaul@aol.com 

CARPET 

CARPET REPAIRS 

Restretching, reseaming & 

patching. No job too small. 

Free estimates. 

(314) 892-1003 

COLLECTIBLES 

WANTED TO BUY 

• SPORTS MEMORABILIA • 

Baseba l Cards, Sports Cards, 

Cardinals Souvenirs and 

Memorabilia. Pre-1975 Only. 

Private Co lector: 314-302-1785 

Mark Hicks, LLC 

Construction, Repairs, 

Upgrades 

EverythingDecks.net 

38 years experience, 

no money up front, 

wa ranty, insured, 


MarkHicksLLC.com 

BBB A+ 

636-337-7733 

ELECTRICAL 

ERIC'S ELECTRIC 

Licensed, Bonded and Insured: 

Service upgrades, fans, can lights, 

switches, outlets, basements, 

code violations fixed, we do it 

all. Emergency calls & back-up 

generators. No job too sma l. 

Competitively priced. Free 

Estimates. 

Just ca l 636-262-5840 

GARAGE DOORS 

DSI/Door Solutions, Inc. 

Garage Doors, Electric Openers. 

Fast Repairs. All makes & models. 

Same day service. Free Estimates. 

Custom Wood and Steel Doors. 

BBB Member • Angie's List 

Ca l 314-550-4071 

www.dsi-stl.com 

HAULING 

Rockwood School District 

Hiring For Position of: 

HVAC Maintenance Technician 

- 40 hrs/week 

- 12 months/year 

- Competitive Salary 

Fu l Benefit Package includes: 

- Retiremen through the Public 

Educational Employee Retirement 

System (PEERS) of Missouri 

- Paid Medical, Dental 

& Vision Insurance 

- Flexible Spending A counts 



- Employee A sistance Program 


- Vacation Compensation 

- 11 Paid Holidays 

Apply at: 

h tps: /rockwood.ted.people 

admin.com/hire/index 

or ca l (636) 733-3270 

EEOC 

Rockwood School District 


CUSTODIAN 

- 40 hrs/week 



Fu l Benefit Package includes: 



System (PEERS) of Mi souri 



- Flexible Spending Accounts 

HELP WANTED 

Rockwood School District Rockwood School District 



Mowing & Landscaping 

Technician 

in Grounds Department 

work school days only 

- 40 hrs/week 

Part time or Full time, 


No experience n eded. 


Seven Paid Holidays, 

Full Benefit Package includes: 

Retiremen through PEERS, 



Perfect A tendance Days 

System (PEERS) of Mi souri Manager positions available 


with full benefits. 


www.rsdmo.org 

- Flexible Spending Accounts 

or ca l 636-733-3253 



- Employee A sistance Program 




Apply at: 

https: /rockwood.ted.people 


or ca l (636) 733-3270 

EEOC 

-PART TIME COOK- 

Multi Faceted Position. 

In Private Home. 

This position 

requires, cooking, serving 

& light house work. 

Wed & Fri, 12PM-8:30PM 

Every other weekend, 

Rotating shifts. 

For more info ca l 

(314) 349-1457 

Ask for Sherlyn Whiteside 

HOME IMPROVEMENT 

Kitchen Remodeling, 

Wainscoting, Cabinets, 

Crown Molding, Trim, Framing, 

Basement Finishing, Custom 

Decks, Doors, Windows. 

Free estimates! 

Anything inside & out! 

Call Joe 636-699-8316 

AFFORDABLE CARPENTRY 

SBA Contracting LLC 

Home Improvement and Repairs 

Interior Painting, Flooring, 

Drywa l & Wood Repair. 


Insured 

Ca l 314-910-7458 

or email us at 

sbacontracting lc@gmail.com 

Total Bathroom Remodeling 

Cabinetry•Plumbing•Electrical 

30 Years Experience 

Food Service 

Our Child Nutrition Assistants 

LANDSCAPING 

MORALES LANDSCAPE LLC 

• Clean-Up • Mowing • Mulching 

Planting • Aeration • Sod Insta l 

• Leaf/Tree Removal • Paver Patios 

• Trimming/Edging Stone & Brick 

• Retaining Wa ls • Drainage Work 

- F R E E S T I M AT E S - 

636-293-2863 

moraleslandscape@hotmail.com 

M I E N E R 

LANDSCAPING 

Retaining Wa ls • Patios • Pruning 

Chainsaw Work • Seasonal 

Clean-up • Honeysuckle Removal 

Friendly service with a tention to detail 

Ca l Tom 636.938.9874 

www.mienerlandscaping.com 

Best Landscaping Values in Town! 

Mizzou Crew Mulch, 

Shrub Trimming, 

Yard Cleanups, 

Power Washing, 

Moles, Sma l Walls 

and Paver Patios. 

Ca l/text Jeff 

314-520-5222 

or www.Mi zouCrew.com 


RETAINING WA LS • PAVER PATIOS • DECKS 

FENCES • TREES • NEW LANDSCAPING 

LAWNS & MULCH AND MUCH MORE! 

poloslawn@aol.com 

Free Estimates 

314-280-2779 

• SPRING CLEAN-UPS • 

Mulching, 

Bush & Shrub Trimming, 

Removal and Planting 

Dethatching / Powe raking, 

Aeration and Overs eding, 

Brushwork, Sod Install 

and Leaf Removal 

• FAST & FREE ESTIMATES • 

TWO MEN & A MOWER 

636-432-3451 

PLUMBING 

TODD THE PLUMBER 

Licensed, Bonded & Insured 

Available for all your plumbing 

n eds. No job to big or too small. 

35 years experience! 

314-800-4960 

• ANYTHING IN PLUMBING • 

Good Prices! Basement 

bathrooms, small repairs & code 

violations repaired. Fast Service. 

Certified, licensed plumber - MBC 

Plumbing - Ca l or text anytime: 

314-409-5051 

LICENSED PLUMBER 

Bonded & Insured 

Available for a l your 

plumbing needs. 

No job is too sma l. 


35 Years Experience. 

Senior Discounts 

24 hours service! 

314-808-4611 

POWERWASHING 

POWERWASHING 

APRIL SPECIAL 

1 Story House 

Starting at $239 

2 Story House 

Starting at $279 

636-279-0056 

A l Smiles Pre sure Washing, LLC 

PET SERVICES 

Herb Olmsted 314-960-2872 

TREE SERVICES 

• COLE TREE SERVICE • 

Tree and Stump Removal. 

Trimming and Deadwooding. 

www.cole-tree-service.biz 

Fr e Estimates. 

636-475-3661 

GET 'ER DONE TREE SERVICE 

Tree trimming, removal, deadwooding, 

pruning and stump 

grinding. Certified arborist. 

Fully Insured • Free Estimates 

REAL ESTATE 

SOFTBAL LEAGUES 

Men 60+ Senior Softba l League 

Slow pitch softba league for men 

60 years and older 

to play in St. Charles County 

is accepting individual 

applications for the 2022 season. 

Double-headers on 

Wednesdays at 4:30pm 

at Schneider-Kiwanis Park. 

Final day for applications 

is Saturday, April 30. 

If interested email: 

herbieo.jr@gmail.com 

or ca l or text: 

Licensed & insured. Affordable, 

dependable and available! 



LANDSCAPE 

REHAB + 

when n eded. 

VISA/MC a cepted. 22 yrs. service. 

To l Free 1-888-STL-JUNK 

888-785-5865 or 314-644-1948 

HELP WANTED 


or ca l (636) 733-3270 

SPECIALIZING 

IN ALL YOUR 

HARDSCAPING 

NEEDS! 

-CAREGIVER- 

•Reliable 

•Experienced 

•Companion 

TOP NOTCH WATERPROOFING 

& FOUNDATION REPAIR LLC 

Cracks, sub-pump systems, 

structural & concrete repairs. 

Outside Service A tendant 

$11.15 / Hour 

Looking to fi l our outside team, 

flexible hours, golf privileges, 

VISITING ANGELS is hiring for 

Chesterfield/Wildwood/Ba lwin/ 

REPAIR•REDO 

ALL NEW 

RETAINING WALLS 

in West County 

Fu l / PT 

Ca l 314-941-1326 

Fina ly, a contractor who is honest 

& leaves the job site clean. 

or email 

briano@meabrk.org 

for more information. 

Homemaker shifts. W ekly Pay, 

Flexible Schedules, 401K match. 

Health Ins. after 6 mo. if FT 

Ca l 636-695-4422 or apply at 

+ WEDDING SERVICES 

PAVER PATIOS 

FIRE PITS • WALKWAYS 

BOBCAT WORK 

Interior and 

exterior painting 

Deck staining 

636-281-6982 

• Marriage Ceremonies • Vow Renewals • Baptisms

West Newsmagazine 2-7-24

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